^> 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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4p 


<^. 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


UiUM    |2.5 

150     '■^*       Ill^B 

^   us    112.0 


1.4 


1.6 


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^^. 


Hiotographic 

^Sciences 

Corporation 


as  WIST  MAIN  STMIT 

WItSTIR.N.Y.  14SM 

(7U)  •79-4S03 


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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notes  tachniques  at  bibliographiquas 


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mat 


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^ 

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7 

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1 

2 

3 

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empreinte. 

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dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
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symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicesssire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1^^ 


7 


^ 


s-^' 


ALLEN'S 


•,-^,; 


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Df<» 


LLJ\ 


BIIMO    A 

ARRATIVE 

f       . 

A. 

OP 


CONTAIMIirO  BI8 


i 


COLONEL  ETHAN  AL 

VOYAGES,  TBAVEH^M, 

.g.-' 

(KBSERVlTIOlfS. 


' 


♦ 


W"  "'■""■■"  '-.»-"^ 


3 


i 


1 

( 

) 


( 


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-% 


h 


PREFACE. 


^»^^^*'i^^^^^^»«* 


# 


I 


5 '.  I 


Ethan  Allen,  the  author  and  subject  of 
the  following  narrative,  wjis  cei*tainl)r  one  of 
the  most  noted  and  notable  men  of  his  time. 
Bold,  ardent  and  unyielding,  he  possessed  an 
unusual  degree  of  vigor  both  of  body  and 
mind,  and  an  unlimited  confidence  in  his  own 
abilities. 

He  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Litchfield  county, 
Conn,  on  the  10th  of  January,  1737.  He 
married  in  Connecticut,  and  migrated  himself 
to  Vermont  about  the  year  1769,  where  he 
spent  most  of  his  after  life  ;  but  his  family  did 
not  come  here  till  1778,  just  before  his  return 
from  captivity.  At  the  commencement  of 
disturbances  in  this  territory,  about  the  year 
1770,  he  took  a  most  active  part  in  favor  of 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  as  the  settlers  Were 
tltto  called,  in  opposition  to  the  government 
oTNew  York.    On  account  of  which,  an  act 


<4M«I 


■Mm 


""vm 


PREFACE. 


of  outlawry  against  him  was  passed  by  this 
State,  and  fifty  pounds  were  offered  for  his 
apprehension  ;  but  his  party  was  too  numerous 
and  faithful  to  permit  him  .to  be  disturbed  by 
any  apprehensions  for  his  safety.  In  all  the 
struggles  of  the  day  he  was  successful ;  and 
not  only  proved  a  valuable  friend  to  those 
whose  cause  he  had  espoused,  but  he  was 
humane  and  generous  towards  those  with 
whom  he  had  to  contend.  When  called  to 
take  the  field  he  showed  himself  an  able  leader 
and  an  intrepid  soldier.  He  refrained  from 
every  thing  which  had  the  appearance  of 
meanness,  injustice,  cruelty,  or  abuse  towards 
those  who  fell  into  his  power,  and  protested 
against  the  same  in  others.  During  the  pro- 
gress of  the  controversy  with  New  York,  he 
wrote  and  dispersed  several  pamphlets  in 
which  be  exhibited,  in  a  manner  peculiar  to 
himself,  and  well  suited  Jlo  the  state  of  public 
feeling,  the  injustice  and  cruelty  of  the  claims 
and  proceedings  of  this  State.  And  although 
these  pamphlets  are  unworthy  of  notice  aft 
literary  productions,"yet  they  were  at  the  tMis 


PREFACE. 


extensively  circulated,  and  contributed  much 
to  inform  the  minds,  arouse  the  zeal,  and  unite 
the  efforts  of  the  settlers.  The  bold  and  un- 
polished roughness  of  these  writings  were  well 
suited  to  give  a  just  description  of  the  views 
and  proceedings  of  a  band  of  speculating  and 
unprincipled  land-jobbers.  His  method  of 
writing  was  likewise  well  adapted  to  the  con- 
dition and  feelings  of  the  settlers  ;  and  proba- 
bly exerted  a  greater  influence  over  their 
opinions  and'  conduct,  than  the  same  senti- 
ments would  have  done,  clothed  in  the  charte 
style  of  classic  elegance.  Nor  did  jt  diiVr 
greatly  in  style,  or  literary  merit ;  froo)  the 
.pamphlets  which  came  from  New  York.  Ilut 
although  he  wrote  with  asperity  and  freedom,' 
he  was  ever  noble  and  generous  and  just» 

The  most  eventful  period  of  Col.  Allen's 
life  was  that  between  May  1775  and  May  1778. 
This  period  is  embraced  id  the  following  nar- 
rative. Being  returned  to  Vermont,  as  an 
expression  of  confidence  in  his  patriotism  and 
military  talents,  he  was  very  soon  afterwards 
flfipointed  to  the  command  of  the  State  militia. 


r 


s 


PREFACE. 


It:  does  not  appear,  ho wdver,  that  bis  intre- 
piditf  was  ever  afterwards  broiight  to  the  test, 
though  hi$  patriotism  wasi  tried  by  an  unsuc- 
cessful attempt  of  the  British  to  bribe  him  to 
effect  a  reunion  pf  Vermont  with  Canada. 
Sir  H.  Clinton  wrote  to^  Lord   Germainej 
Feb.  1781^  "there  is  every  reason  to  suppose 
that  Ethan  Allen  has  quitted  the  rebel  cause* '' 
it  was  bis  project  to  makea  city,  Vergennes, 
a  mile  square.    Qis  daughter  Pamela,  married 
£«   W. .  Keysj  Esq. »    in    1803.     Another 
d(^ughteF  entered  a  nunnery  in  Canada ;  and 
anothlsr  died  in  her  youth.    Being  called  to 
the  bedftide  of  this  one  a  sbprt  time  previous 
t0;l|||r  devthf  (she  having  been  instructed  in 
e'pi^plple»  of  Christianity,  by  her  mother, 
and  byihim  in  deistlcal  principles,)  she  said 
to  him,  'Tam  about  to  die;  shall  I  believe 
thi  principles  you  have  taught  me,  or  shall  I 
be^^^ve.  what  my  motber  has  taught  me  ? "    He  < 
biscan^e  agitated— his  chin  quivered-^his  whole 
fmne  shoo^^  and  he  replied,  *'  Believe  what 
};our  mother  has  taiight  you.'N 


'■V, 


PREriCE. 


9 


5  mtre- 
the  teatj 
un8uc^ 
him  to, 
anada. 
*aiaine,.jv 
uppose 
3au^e." 

Harried 

Qother 
k;  aod  ' 
lied  to 
evious 
ted  in 
other, 
'  saidi 

?h'eve 
laU  I 

He 

'hple 
vhat 

A. 


Besides  the  pamphlets  in  the  controversy 
with  New  York,  and  this  narrative  of  his  cap- 
tivity, our  author  also  wrote  ^'  A  Vindicftion^ 
of  the  Opposition  of  the  Inhabitants  (^  Ver-  ' 
mont  to  the  Government  of  New  Yq^k,  and 
their  right  to   form  an  independent  State/'^^ 
This  was  published  in   1779,  and  "Allen*s 
Theology,  or  the  Oracles  of  Reason,  1786." 

He  died  suddenly  (of  apoplexy,  at  his  estate 

in  Colchester,   Feb;  12,    1769.    His  ashes 

rest  beneath  a  plain  marble  slab  in  the  beautitul 

*  cemetry  near  Winooski,  lower  falls,  >  havihg 

upon  it  the  following  inscription  :  '^'^^ 

■    ■  ,'  .  The'      ■   »'''■" 

Corporeal  Part     .  -i? 

of  >  ;.,  5 

GENERAL    ETHAN   ALLEN, 

Retits  beneath  this  itbne,' 

lath  day  Feb.  1780, 

Aged  50. 

His  spirit  tried  ths  mercies  of  his  God 
In  whom  he  beiieved  and  strongly  trasted. 

His  true  age,  as  will  appear  from  the  record 
of  hi^  birth,  was  52  years,  1  month  andi2  day^. 
Two  editions  of  this  work,  one  at  Philadrf-  . 
^ia  and  the  other  at  Boston,  wer^'  prlht^^ 


■  i,y\ 


Jt' 


le 


..^. 


PmiFAOi). 


duriog  th«)  year  1779^  in  wbicbta  \^9iMttUeii. 
An^tjher  WQ&  printe4  in  Nofwicb,  in  1780. 
The  net^,  9n(f  on]y  oiher  l^iat  We  hav«  seen 
or  b0iur^  ol,  watf  printed  at  Walpole^  N.  H^  it 
lj@Q9^.  -i  III  tbe^  «dve«t»9eineiit  te^  tbi$^  iIm  pub* 
liish^rs  9ay^  "  we'  bav«  oomplied  mih  t^ 
wisb^s.  of  a:  9iiinber  of  persfooS)  Wbo  bad  a  d^* 
sire.to  keep  in  r^meotibratode  tbe  herb  of 
T^f^ndekoga^and  tbee^ftplbita  be  performed/' 
andj^j  it  iai  believed  tbactbt^ffO;  is  oot  abopy 
f(bt#iiabtin  aoy  bobkst^^re  in  tbe  United  States.'^ 
^atitbeyf  said  in  I8Q7  of  ]^^!cediiig  editions^ 
we  say  now  of^^BU^  including  also  theirs^ 
Again,  *'  tbe  events  of  tbose  troublous  times, 
in  wbibb  Col.  Allbn  took  a  conspicuous  part, 
Ire  rendered  doubly  interesting,  from  the 
lively,  unadoi;ned  m&nu^r  of  bis  own  narrative. 
As  it  is  deemed  that  fhe  very  words  in  every 
respect,^  m^de  use  of  by  Col.  Allen,  would  be 
more  acceptable  to  the  reader  than  any  artifi- 
cial decoration  of  style,  we  shall  almost  inva- 
rtably  adhere^ to  tbe  original."  In  this  revised 
edt^on,  we  adhere  not  «  afmoat  invariable ;" 
but  aiiogetker  to  the  original. 


PREFACE. 


11 


To  conclude  this  preface,  tlie  writer  would 
acknowledge  himself  indebted  for  the  mate- 
rials.of  the  sketch  here  presented  of  the  begin^- 
ning  and  end  of  Col.  Allen's  life,  to  Dr. 
William  Allen's  Biographical  and  Historical 
Dictionary,, and  to  Zadbck  Thompson's  Civil 
History  of  Vermont.  P.  W.  E. 


f;i^st;™ 


w. 


I- 


INTRODUCTION. 


^»#»^^^«#N^»^>^« 


Induced  by  a  sense  of  duty  to  my  country, 
and  by  the  application  of  many  worthy  friends, 
some  of  whom  are  of  the  first  characters,  I 
have  concluded  to  publish  the  following  narra- 
tive of  the  extraordinary  scenes  of  my  captit- 
ty,  and  the  discoveries  which  I  made  in  the 
course  of  the  same,  of  the  cruel  and  relentless 
disposition  and  behaviour  of  the  enemy,  to- 
wards the  prisoners  in  their  power ;  from 
which  the  state  politician,  and  every  gradation 
of  character  among  the  people,  to  the  worthy 
tiller  of  the  soil,  may  deduce  such  inferences 
as  they  shall  think  proper  to  carry  into  prac- 
tice. Some  men  are  Itppointed  into  oftce  in 
these  States,  who  read  the  history  of  the  cru- 
elties of  this  «war,  with  the  same  careless  in- 
difference, as  they  do  the  pages  of  the  Roman 
histor}' ;  nay,  some  are  preferred  IQ  places  of 

trott  and  profit  by  the  tory  infl^i^MU?.    The 
2 


.    ^ 


X. 


mm 


14 


INTJIODUCTION. 


' 


instances  are,  I  hope,  but  rare,  and  it  stands 
all  freemen  in  hand  to  prevent  their  further  in- 
fluence, which,  of  all  other  things,  would  be 
the  most  baneful  to  the  liberties  and  happiness 
of  this  country  ;  and  so  far  as  such  influence 
takes  place,  robs  us  of  the  victory  we  haVe 
dfotained,  at  the  expense  of  so  mioch  blood  and 
treasors. 

I  should  hme  exhibtted  to  the  publk  a  his- 
tory of  the  facta  harein  contained,  boon  after 
my  exchaDge)  faud  not  the  urgency  of  my  p?i- 
ftam  affairs;,  together  v^ith  more  urgent  public 
business,  detnanded  my  attieiition  until  a  few 
fwefeks  ibefore  the  date  faereof^i  The  reader 
will  readiiy'dktcm,  that  a  aanrative  of  this 
sort,  oottld  not  bave  beta  written  wheib  I  was 
t  firifooer ;  my  trunk  and  writifigs  wexe  often 
seercbed  ueder  varioua  piietedcits,  so  Ibat  I. 
never  wrote  ft  syllable^or  even  made  a  rough 
pinut0,  wbereoti  I  might  predicate  tbk  narra- 
llve,  but  trusted  solely  fio  my  memory  for  tbe 
twbole.  I  have,  liowever,  taken  tbe  greetest 
«are  abd  pasM  lo/recoUeet  tbe  (acts  and  amnge 
them ;  bat  at  they  loucb  a  variety  of  eharacHers 


INTRODUCTION. 


15 


and  opposing  interests,  I  am  sensible  that  all 
will  not  be  pleased  with  the  relation  of  them. 
Be  this  as  it  will,  I  have  made  truth  my  in- 
variable guide,  and  pledge  my  honor  on  the 
truth  of  the  facts. 

I  have  been  generous  with  the  British,  in 
giving  them  full  and  ample  credit  for  all  their 
good  usage  of  any  considerable  consequence, 
which  I  met  among  them,  during  my  captivity; 
which  was  easily  done,  as  I  met  with  but  little,' 
hi  comparison  of  the  bad,  which,  by  reason  of 
the  great  plurality  of  it,  could  not  be  contained 
in  so  concise  a  narration  ;  so  that  I  am  certain, 
that  I  have  more  fully  enumerate^  the  favors 
which  I  received,  than  the  abuses  I  suffered. 
The  critic  will  be  pleased  to  excuse  any  in- 
accuracies in  the  performance  itself,  as  the 
author  has,  unfortunately,  missed  of  a  liberal 
education.  ETHAN  ALLEN. 

Bennington,  17'79. 


■  V 


It 


.w 


■Hi.   0V/.li 


^d  11  iw 


'Hih 


I  > 


■fn,,y 


»  >-  ♦ 


NARRATIVE. 


Ever  since  I  arrived  to  a  state  of  man*- 
hood,  and  acquainted  myself  with  the  general  . 
history  of  hi«uikind,  I  have  felt  a  sincere  pas- 
sion  for  liberty.     The  history    of  nationa 
doomed  to  perpetual  slavery^  in  consequence 
of  yielding  up  to  tyrants  their  naturalfborn 
liberties,  1  read  with  a  sort  o(.  philosophical 
ho^or ;    so  that  the  first  systematioal  and 
bloody  attempt  at   Lexington,    to    enslaye 
America,  thorougMy  electrified  my  mind>  and 
fully  determined  me  to  take  part  with  my 
country :  And  while  I  was  wishing  for  an  ; 
opportunity  to  signalize  myself  in  its  behalf, 
direotions  were  privately  sent  to  me  from  the; 
then  colony,  now  State,  of  Connecticut,  torn 
raise  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  ;  and  if  pos-  ; 
siblewitb  them  to  surprise  and  take  the  for- 
tress Ticonderc^a.     This  enterpriae  Bcbeeri 
fuUy  undertook ;  and,  after  first  guitdiog  all 
the  several  passes  that  led  thither,  to  cut  off 
all  intelligence  between  the  garrison  and  the 
country,  made  a  foectd  maM£  frdm  Benaing- 


18 


NARRATIVE    OF 


ton,  and  arrived  at  the  lake  opposite  to  Ticon- 
deroga,  on  the  evening:  of  the  9th  day  of  May, 
1775,  with  two  hundred  and  thirty  valiant 
Green  Mountain  Boys  ;  and  it  was  with  the 
utmost  difficulty  that  I  procured  boats  to  cross 
the  lake.  However,  I  landed  eightyfive 
men  near  the  garrison,  and  sent  the  boats 
back  for  the  rear  guard,  commanded  by  Col. 
Seth  Warner ;  but  the  day  began  to  dawn, 
and  I  fqund  myself  under  a  necessity  to  attack 
the  fort4  before  the  rear  could  cross  the  lake  ; 
and,  as  it  was  viewed  hazardous,  I  harangued 
the  officers  and  soldiers  in  the  manner  follow- 
ing :  '^Friends  and  fellow<»8oldiers, you  have, 
for  a  number  of  years  past^  been  a  scourge 
and  terror  to  arbitrary  pow^r.  Your  valor 
has  been  famed  abroad,  and  acknowledged,' 
as  appears  by  the  advice  and  orders  to  me 
from  the  General  Assembly  of  Conpecticut, 
to  surprise  and  take  the  garrison  now  before 
usi  I  now  propoie  to  advance  before  yoir, 
and  in  person  conduct  you  through  the  wicket 
gatt;  lor  we  mqst  this  morning  either  quit 
our  pretensions  to  valor^  tfir  possess  ourselves 
of  this  fortress  in  a  few  minutes  ;  and,'  in  as 
iiiuch  as  it  is  a  desperate  attempt,  whid^none 
but  the  bravest  of  men  dare  undertake,  I  do 
not  urge  it  on  any  contrary  to  his  will.  You 
that  will  undertake  voluntarily,  poise  your 
firelooks.*' 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


19 


te  to  Ticon- 
[day  of  May, 
lirty  valiant 
^as  with  the 
lats  to  cross 
eighty  five 
the  boats 
led  by  Col. 
m  to .  dawn, 
ity  to  attack 
>ss  the  lake  ; 
I  harangued 
nner  follow- 
b,  you  have, 
'n  a  scourge 
Your  valor 
oiowJedged,* 
rders  to  me 
ii^onpecticut, 
now  before 
before  you, 
h  the  wicket 
:  either  quit 
ss  ourselves 
;  and,' in  as 
whici^none 
?rtake,  I  do' 
will.     You 
poiso  your 


% 


The  men  being  at  this  time  drawn  up  in . 
three  ranks,  each  poised  his  firelock,  I  ordered 

,    them  to  face  to  the  right,  and,  at  the  head  of 
the  center-file,  marched  them  immediately  to 
the  wicket-gate  aforesaid,  where  I  found  a 
sentry  ported,  who  instantly  strapped  bis  fusee 
at  mej    1  run  imicediately  toward  him,  and 
he  retreated  through  the  covered  way  into   < 
the  parade  within  the  garrison,  gave  a  ballob^* ; 
and  ran  under  a  bomb-proof.     Sly  party  who  ' 
followed  me  into  the  fort,  1  formed  on  the  ; 
parade  iu  such  manner,  as  to  face  tl^e  two 
barracks  which  faced  each  other.     The  gt^r-  . 
rison  being  asleep,  except  the  8en&i||^,  we 
gave  three  huzzas  which  greatly  sur^pria^d 
them.     One  of  the  sentries  made  a  pass  at 

*  ^one  of  my  officers  with  a  charged  bayonet, 
and  slightly  wounded  him.     My  first  thought  < 
was  to  kill  him  with  my  sword  ;  but,  in  an 
instant,  altered  the  design  and  fury  of  the .  * 
blow  to  a  slight  cut  on  the  side  of  the  bead  ;  ! 
upon  which  he  dropyd  his  giin,  and  asked  > 
quarter,  which  I  rewuly  granted  him,  aodd^ri/: 
manded  of  him  tbe  place  where  tiw  (^otiD«il> 
manding  officer  kept ;  he  shewetL^me  ipairr 
of  stairs  in  the  front  of  a  barrack,  ocl^)|»t  west 
part  of  the  garrison,  which  led  up  to  ai^oiiii^:  > 
story  in  said  barrack,  to  whicb  1  imtosmmfsjp* 
repaired^  and  ordered  the  commuider,  CifiL  ^ 


20 


NARRATIVE  OF 


Delaplace,  to  come  forth  instsiotly,  or  I  would 
sacrifice  th^  whole  garrison ;  at  which  the 
Captain  came  immediately  to  the  door  with 
his  breeches  in  his  hand,  when  I  ordered  him 
to  deiir^r  to  me  the  fort  instantly,  who  asked 
me,  by  what  authority  I  demanded  it.:  I  an«^^ 
sWered  him,  **  In  the  name  of  the  great  Jeho- 
ysh  and  the  continental  Congress."^  The 
authority  of  the  Congress  being  very  little 
known  fit  that  time,  he  began  to  speak  again; 
but  1  interrupted  him,  and  with  my  drawn 
sword  over  his  bead,  again  demanded  an  im« 
mediate- surrender  of  the  garrison  ;  to  which 
he  theaivomplied^and  ordered  his  nien  to  be 
forthwith  paraded  without  arms,  as  he  had 
given  up  the  garrison.  In  the  mean  time 
some  of  noiy  officers  had  given  orders,  and  in 
cooaequence  thereof,  sundry  of  the  barrack 
doors  were  beat  down,  and  about  one  third 
of  the  garrison  imprisoned,  which  consisted  of 
the  said  commander,  a  Lieut.  Feltham^  aeon* 
diictdf  of -artiliery,  a  gunner,  two  sergeants, 
and-fdrly-four  rank  and  me;  about  one  hun- 
dred pieces  of  cannon,  one  tbirteen-inch  mor- 
tar, and  a  number  a[  swivels.  This  surprise 
was  oarriisd  into  execution  in  the  gray  ot  the 
morning  of  the  tienth  day  of  May,  1775.  The 
SUB  levmed  to  rise  that  morning  with  a  supe- 
rior lustre ;  and  Ticondereg^  and  its  dependr:^ 


ETHAR  ALLEIY. 


21 


encies  smiled  on  its  conquerors,  who  tossed 
round  the  flowing  bowl,  and  wished  success 
to  Congress,  and  the  liberty  and  freedom  of 
America.     Happy  it  was  forme,  at  tliattime, 
that  the  then  future  pages  of  the  booli:  of  fate, 
which  afterwards  unfolded  a  miserabk  scene 
of  two  years  and  eight  months'  imprisOiimeiit^ 
was  hid  from  my  view.     But  to  return  to  my 
narration.     Col.  Warner,  with  the  rear  guard^ 
crossed  the  lake,  and  joined  me  early  in  thtf. 
morning,  whom  I  sent  off,  without  losi  iof ; 
time,  with  about  one  hundred  men,  to  lake/ 
possession  of  Crown  Point,  which  was  gar-.i 
risoned  with  0,  sergeant  and  twelve  men ; 
which  he  took^possession  of  the  same  d^ys  aaij 
also  upwards  m  09<9  hundred  pieces  of  can^) 
non.    But  one  th^  now  r^mainied,  to  be;i 
done,  to  make  ourselves  comfdete  fnasiers  oCl 
Lake  Champlain.     This  was  to  possess  our*^ 
selves  of  a  sloop  of  war,  which  was  then  lay-  ^ 
ing  at  St.  Johns ;  to  effect'  whtch|,U  was 
agreed  in  a  council  of^  war,  to  arm  anqj^i 
out  a  certain  schooner,  which  lay  at  Sotutfl 
Bay,  and  that  Captain  (now  General)  ArpoM  v 
.should  Command  her,  and  that  I  shoQl4  ceAl*; 
mand  the  batteaux. 

The  necessary  preparations  being  'iT'^de^t 
we  set  sail  from  Ticonderoga  in  quest  et  tbetf 
sle^fij^  which  was  much  larger,  and  jci^rri^  I 


2i^ 


NARRATIVE    OF 


niore  gun0  Ind  heatier  metal  than  the  schoon* 
er.  General  ArncM,  with  the  schooner,  sail^ 
ing  faster  than  the  batteaux^  arrived  at  St. 
Jfmaa;  vi^d  bf  surprise  possessed  himself  of 
the  sloops  before  I  cook)  arrive  with  the  bat- 
teati^r.  m  afe^  made  prisc^ers  of  a  sergeant 
anv)  tirelve  meii,  wlio>  were  prisoned  at  that 
pl$ee» 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  tbot  as  ^oon  as^  Gren. 
Amold  bftd  seciired  the  prisoners  on  board, 
ahd  fkad  made  preparatbn  for  sttling,  die 
wlddi,  wbiob  but  a  few  hours  before  was  fresh 
in  the  setitb,  attd  well  serv^  to  carry  us  to 
Stk  Ji^n'^,  now  shifted,  and  caaae  fresh  from 
tbi  dOHfa^;  and  in  one  about  n^liodr's  time, 
G«Mrd  Arnold  sailed  with  tlSe  prize  and 
sebootier  fer  Ticondercitfa.  Wheti  I  met 
him  wi^  my  pintty^  within  a  few  miles  of  St. 
John's,  he  sainted  me  with  a  discharge  of 
cannon,  when  I  returned  with  a  volley  of 
small  i^rms.  This  beinff  repeated  three  times, 
I  went  on  board  the  ^doop  with  my  party, 
where  several  loyal  Congress  heaklis  were 
di^ttik;  We  were  now  masters  of  lake  Cham- 
plam,  and  the  gairrisons  depending  thereon. 

This  success  I  viewed  of  consequence  in 
the  scale  of  American  politics ;  for  if  a  settle- 
ment between  the  then  colonies  and  Oreat 
BHtain,  had  soon  tfikeii  place,  it  would  have 


.,j<^ 


•  ^ 


ETHiLN  ALLEN. 


33 


been  easy  to  hard  restored  these  acquisiiioo^; 
but  viewing  the  then  future  coDsequences  of  a 
cruel  war,  as  it  has  really  proved  to  be,  and 
the  command  of  that  lake,  garrisons,  artiUery, 
^.,  must  be  viewed  to  be  of  signal  import- 
ance to  the,  American  cause,  and  it  it  marvel- 
lous to  me  that  we  ever  lost  the  command  of 
it.  Nothing  but  the  taking  of  a  Burgoyne, 
with  a  whole  British  army,  could,  in  my 
opinion,  atone  for  it;  and  notwUhatandiqg 
such  an  extraordinary  victiory,  \^. must  he 
obliged  to  regain- the  commaind  of  that  lalse 
again,  be  the  cost  what  it  will.  By  doing 
timj  Cftoada  i^ill  easily  be  brought  iato^nion 
SMid»  confederacy  with*  the  Uiiited  States  of 
America*  S&ch  an  ;event  would  pM^  >  it  out  4>f 
the  power  of  thj^  wcrstem  tribes  <i^f  Iiidiaoa  ito 
ciirry  on^a  war  witH^os^  an^  be  f  9olid  and 
durable  bar  a^ainsi  any  funlb'erinhiin^in^  bar- 
barities conimLtted  on  pur' frontier  .inhabitant^, 
by  cruel  and  blood-thirsty  savages  ;  for  it  is 
inifiossible  for  them  to<cariy  on  a  war  expefjpt 
they  are  supported  by  the  tradeta^d  cqmnierqe 
of  son^e  civilised  nation  ;  which  to  them 
would  he  impracticable,  did  Canada  ^^ni^pose 
a  part  ^f  ihe  American  empire; 

Early  in  the  faU  of  th©  year,  th^iitile  firaiy, 
)^&deir  the^AUMnroand  of  the  Generis  Schuyler 
and;  «^oMgomeri|r^^fMii^,^4ered  to  aj^vance 

■  ^t 

(Ontario. 

Of  IH 


i^iftiSlll«»(«**  -^.■inueiv 


ii4 


narhative  op 


1 


»,  ibtb'  Ciinacla.  I  wals  at  Ticoirderoga  when 
this  order  arrived;  and  the  Gen.,  with  most 
of  the  field  officers,  requested  me  to  attend 
them  in  the  expedition ;  and  though  at  that 
time  I  had  no  commission^ from  Congress, 
yet  thef  engaged  me,  that  I  should  be  con- 
sidered as  an  officer  the  sam6  as  though  I 
had  a  commission ;  and  should,  as  occasion 
tnight  require,  command  certain  detachmisnts 
of  the  army.  This  I  considered  as  an  hon- 
dralbli  offer,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  comply 
with  it,  and  advanced  i^ifh  the  army  to  the 
Isl^  Aliijc  ^<nx ;  from  whence  I  was  ordered 
by  the  General  to  gb  m  compiny  with  Mtffor 
Brown,  and  certain  interpretepV  th^ibligbuhe 
#dods  into  'Canada,  with  lettefrs^'  to  the  Cana- 
difans,  and  to  le(  tben»^Row  that  the  design 
of  the  %rmy  iii^^%ftlf^  againist  the  English 
^rrisons,  and  not  the  country,  theif^  liberties, 
or  rilll^on.  And  havbg^  through  much  dan- 
ger, negotiated '  this  business,  I  returned  to 
Ihe  isile  Auix  Nqix  the  fore  part  of  Septem- 
Wt,  when/Geh.  Bdhuyler  i^tumed  to  Albany ; 
HM  ih  conseqtience  the  command  devolved 
upon  Geh.  Montgomery,  Whom  I  assist^ed  in 
laying  a  line  of  circumvallation  round  the  for- 
ttHisB  St  John's.  After  which  I  was  ordered 
.  b)r  the  General  to  make  a  second  tbilr  il^ 
^ada,  upofi  nearly  the  same  design  as'  be 


ETHAI^,  ^piff. 


35 


fore;  and  withal  to  observe  the  disposition,  ^ 
designs  and  movements  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  country . 

This  reconnoitre  I  undertook  withreluc-v 
tance,  choosing  rather  to  assist  at  the  si^ge  of 
St.  John's,  which  was  then  closely  .invested  ; 
but  my  esteem  for  the  General's  person,  and 
opinion  of  him  as  a  politician  and  brave  officer^ 
induced  me  to  proceed. 

I  passed  through  all  the  parishes  oil   the 
river  Sprrel,  to  a  parish  at  the  mouth  of  the 
same,  which  is  called  by  the  same  name^^  ^ 
preaching  politics ;  and  went   from  thence  ^ 
acrf  ss  the  Sorrel  to  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  . 
and  up  the  river  through  the  parishes  tp  Lon*  ' 
gale,  and  <so  far  met  with  gopd  success  as  an  ^ 
itinerant.    In  this  rounds  my  guard  were  Caiha^  ^ 
diaos,  my  interpreter  ati^  sdme  few  attendants* 
excepted.     On  the  mo;ming  of  tlie  24th  day 
of  September,  I  set  but  with  niy  gjuard  of 
about  eighty  men,  from  liongale,  to  go  to 
Lapraier ;  from  thence  I  determined  fo  go  to  / 
Gen.  Montgomery's  c^p  ;  but  had  not  >d-  ! 
vanced  two  miles  before  I  met  with  Major 
Brown,  who  has  since  been  advanced  to  the,^ 
rank  of  a  Colonel,  who  desired  me  to  h^lt^  j 
saying  that  he  had  something  of  importance  to 
communicate  to  me  and  my  confidants,  upon  ^ 
which  t  halted  the  party,  and  went  into  9ia  '^ 


26 


NARRATIVE  Of 


house,  and  took  a  private  room  with  him  and 
several  of  my  associates,  where  Col.  Brown 
proposed,  that  '*  Provided  I  would  return  tb 
Longale,  and  procure  som^  canoesf  so  as  tp 
cross  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  a  little  north 
of  Montreal,  he  would  cross  it  a  little  to  th3 
of  the   town,  with  near  two  hundred 


men,  as  he  had  bdats  sufficient ;  and  that  we 
would  make  ourselves  masters  of  Montred." 
This  plan  was  readily  approved  by  me  and 
those  in  Council;   and    in  consequence    of 
which  I  returned  to  Longale,  collected  u  few 
canoes,  and  added  about  thirty  English  Amer- 
icans to  my  party,  and  crossed  the  river  in  fUte 
ni^htdf  the  24th,  agreeable  to  the  befbre  prd^ ' 
posied  plan.     My  whole  party,  at  this  time,  ' 
consisted  of  about  one  hundred  at)d  ten  men,'' 
near  eig;hty  of  whom  Were  Ctmadiians.     We* 
were  the  most  of  the  night  crossing  the  rivet*, 
as  we  had,  so/few  canoes  that  they  had  to  pass 
and  re-pass  three  times,  to  carry  fcy  party 
across.     Soon  after  day  break,  I  set  a  gu«*d 
between  me  and  the  to^n,  with  special  orders 
to  Ibt  no  person    whatever  pass  or  re-pass 
them,  and  another  guard  on  the  orher  etid  of 
the  road,  With  like  directions ;  in  the  mean 
tinie,  I  reconnoitred  the  best  ground  to  make 
a  defence,  expecting  Col.  Brown's  partvWbre 
landing  on  the  bther  side  of  the  town,  li^  fUt- 


GTHAN   ALL^N. 


27 


fth  him  and 
ol.  Brown 
Id  return  to 
sf  so  as  to 
llittle  north 
little  to  ths 
o  hundred 
nd  that  we 
Montreal." 
by  me  and 
jquence    of 
jcted  u  few 
giish  Amer- 
river  in  the 
\be(brepr6^ 
i  this  time,  ' 
!id  ten  men, ', 
dians.     We 
ig  the  river, 
Had  to  pass 
'  iay  party 
set  a  guard 
ecial  orders 
or  re-pass 
rher  end  of 
I  the  mean 
nd  to  make 
partyi^^re 


log  the  day  before  agreed  to  give  three  huz- 
zas with  his  men  early  in  the  morning,  which 
signal  I  was  to  return,  that  we  might  each 
know  that  both  parties  were  landed ;  but  the 
sun  by  tlSs  time  being  near  two  hours  high, 
9nd  the  sign  failing,  I  began  to  conclude  my- 
self to  be  iq  a  premunire)  and  would  have 
crossed  the  river  b^ck  again,  but  I  knew  the 
enemy  would  hav^  discovered  such  an  at- 
tempt; and  astherecould  not  more  than  one, 
third  part  of  my  troops  cross  at  Qne  time,  the 
other  two^thirds  would  of  course  fall  into 
their  han^s.  This  I  <^uld  not  reconcile  to 
my  €wn  feelings  as  a^man,  much  less  as  an 
oficer ;  I  therefore  concluded  to  maintain 
the  ground,  if  possible,  ancf  all  to  fare  alike. 
In  consequence  of  tbi^rejfolutiqn,  I  despatched 
two  messengers,  one  to  Lapraire  to  Colonel 
Brown,  and  the  other  to  Lasumption,  a  French 
settlement^  to  Mr.  Walker,  whp  was  in  our 
interest,  requesting  their  speedy  assistance; 
giving  them  at  the  same  tjme  to  understand 
my  critical  situation.  In  the  mean  time,  sun- 
dry persons  came  to  my  guards,  pretending 
to  be  friends,  but  were  by  them  taken  prison- 
ers and  brought  to  me.  These  I  ordered  ^o 
confinement,  till  their  friendship  could  be  fur- 
ther confirmed ;  for  I  was  jealous  they  were 
spies,  as  they  proved  to  be  afterwards.    One 


0 


28 


NARRATIVE   OF 


of  the  principal  of  them  making  his  escape, 
expos6d  the  weakness  df  my  party,  which 
was  the  final  cause  of  my  misfortune  ;  for  I 
have  been  since  informed  that  Mr.  Walker, 
agreeable  ^o  my  desire,  exerted  himself,  and 
had  raised  a  considerable  number  of  men  for 
my  assistance,  which  brought  him  into  diffi- 
culty afterwards:  but  upon  hearing  of  my 
misfortune,  disbanded  them  again. 

The  town  of  Montreal  was  in  a  great  tu- 
mult. Gen.  Carlton  and  the  royal  party  made 
every  preparation  to  go  bh  board  their  vessels 
of  force,  as  1  was  afterwards  informed,  but 
tbe  spy  escaping  from  liiy  guard  to  the  tbwn, 
occasioned  an  alteration  in  their  policy,  and 
emboldened  Gen.  Carlton  to  send  the  force, 
whicb  he  had  there  collected,  out  against  me. 
I  had  previously  chosen  my  ground,  but  when 
I  saw  the  number  of  the  enemy,  as  they  sal- 
lied out  of  the  town,  t  perceived  it  would  be 
^  day  of  trouble,  if  not  of  rebuke  ;  but  I  had 
no  chance  to  flee,  as  Montreal  was  situated 
on  an  island,  and  the  river  St.  Lawrence  cut 
off  my  communication  to  Gen.  Montgomery's 
camp.  I  encouraged  my  soldiery  to  bravely 
defend  themselves,  that  we  should  soon  have 
help,  and  that  we  should  be  able  to  keep 
the  ground,  if  no  more.  This,  and  much 
more  I  affirmed  with  the  greatest  seeming 


4 
I       * 


ETHAN    ALLEN. 


219 


a  great  tu- 
party  made 
leir  vessels 
brined,  but 
)  the  tbwn, 
policy,  and 
the  force, 
against  me. 
)  but  when 
18  they  sal- 
i  would  be 
but  I  had 
IS  situated 
Tence  cut 
tgomery^s 
0  bravely 
ioon  have 
to  keep 
nd   mucli 
seeming 


assurance,*  and  which  in  reality  I  thought  to 
be  in  some  degree  probable. 

The  enemy  consisted  of  not  more  than  forty 
regular  troops,  together  with  a  mixed  multi- 
tude, chiefly  Canadians,  with  a  number  of 
English  who  lived  in  the  town,  and  some  In- 
dians ;  in  all  to  the  number  of  near  five  hun- 
dred. 

The  reader  will  notice  that  most  of  my 
party  were  Canadians ;  indeed  it  was  a  mot- 
ley parcel  of  soldiery  which  composed  both 
parties.  However,  the  enemy  began  the  at- 
tack from  wood  piles,  ditches,  buildings,  and 
such  like  places,  at  a  considerable  distance, 
and  I  returned  the  fire  from  a  situation  more 
than  equally  advantageous.  The  attack  began 
between  two  and  three  of  the  clock  in  the 
afternoon,  just  before  which  I  ordered  a  vol- 
unteer, by  the  name  of  Richard  Young,  with 
a  detachment  of  nine  men  as  a  fiank  guard, 
which,  under  the  cover  of  the  bank  of  the 
river,  could  not  only  annoy  the  enemy,  but  at 
the  same  time,  serve  as  a  flank  guard  to  the 
left  df  the  main  body. 

The  fire  continued  for  some  time  on  both 
sides ;  and  I  was  confident  that  such  a  remote 
method  of  attack  could  not  carry  the  grouhd, 
provided  it  should  he  continued  until  night. 
put  near  half  the  body  of  the  enemy  began  to 


30 


NARRATIVE    OF 


flank  round  to  my  right ;  upon  whicfi  *  or-  J 
dered  a  volunteer,  by  the  name  of  John  Du- 
gan,  who  lived  many  years  in  Canada,  and 
understood  the  French  language,  to  detkch 
about  fifty  of  the  Canadians,  and  post  himself 
'at  an  advantageous  ditch,  which  was  on  my 
right,  to  prevent  my  being  surrounded. 

He  advanced  with  the  detachment,  but  in- 
stead of  occupying  the  post,  made  his  escape, 
as  did  likewise  Mr.  Young  upon  the  left, 
with  their  detachments.  I  soon  perceived  that 
the  enemy  was  in  possession  of  the  ground 
which  Dugan  should  have  occupied.  At  this 
time  I  had  but  about  fortyfive  men  with  me  ; 
some  of  whom  were  wounded. 

The  enemy  kept  closing  round  me,  nor 
was  it  in  my  power  to  prevent  it,  by  which 
means  my  situation,  which  was  advantageous 
in  the  first  part  of  the  attack,  ceased  to  be  so 
in  the  last ;  and  being  almost  entirely  sur- 
,  rounded  with  such  vast,  unequal  numbers,  t 
ordered  a  retreat,  but  found  that  those  of  the 
enemy ,^  who  were  of  the  country,  and  their 
Indians,  could  run  as  fast  as  my  men,  though 
the  regulars  could  not. 

,  ,  Thus  I  retreated  near  a  mile,  and  some  of 
Uie  enemy,  with  the  savages,  kept  flanking 
me,  and  others  crowded  hard  in  the  rear.  In 
fine  I  expected  in  a  very  short  time  to  try  the 


ETHAfi  ALLEN. 


31 


world  of  spirits,  for  I  was  apprehensive  that 
no  quarter  would  be  giTen  to  me,  and  there- 
fore had  determined  to  sell  my  my  life  as  dear 
as  I  could. 

One  of  the  enemy's  officers  boldly  pressing 
in  the  rear,  discharged  his  fusee  at  me ;  the 
ball  whistled  near  me,  as  did  many  others  that 
day.  I  returned  the  salute,  and  missed  him, 
as  running  had  put  us  both  out  of  breath  ;  for 
T  conclude  we  were  not  frighted.  1  then  sa- 
luted him  with  my  tongue  m  a  harsh  manner, 
and  told  him  that  inasmuch  as  his  numbers 
were  so  far  superior  to  mine,  I  would  surren- 
der, provided  I  could  be  treated  with  honor, 
and  be  assured  of  good  quarter  for  myself  and 
the  men  who  were  with  me  ;  and  he  answered 
I  should  ;  another  officer  coming  up  directly 
after,  confirmed  the  treaty ;  upon  which  I 
agreed  to  surrender  with  my  party,  which  then 
consisted  of  thirty-one  effective  men,  and 
seven  wounded.  I  ordered  them  to  ground 
their  arms,  which  they  did. 

The  officer  I  capitulated  with,  then  dV 
rected  me  and  my  party  to  advance  towards 
^im,  which  was  done.  I  handed  him  my 
sword;  and  in  half  a  minute  after,  a  savage, 
part  of  whose  head  was  shaved,,  being  almost 
naked  and  painted,  with  feathers  intermixed 
with  the  hair  of  the  other  side  of  his  head, 


32 


NARI^ATIVE  OP 


cam^  ruDoipg  to  me  with  an  inolredible  swift- 
ness ;  be  seemed  to  advance  with  more  than 
mortal  speed ;  as  he  approached  near  me,  his 
hellish '  visage  was  beyond  all  description  ; 
snake  eyes  appear  innocent  in  comparison  of 
his  ;  hi3  features  extorted  ;  malice,  death, 
mqrder,  and  the  wrath  of  devils  and  dan)ned 
spirits  are  the  emblems  of  his  countenance  ; 
and  in  less  th^  twelve  feet  of  me,  presented 
his  firelock. 

At  the  instant  bi  his  present,  I  twitched 
the  officer  to  whom  I  gave  my  sword  between 
me  and  the  savage ;  but  he  flew  round  with 
great  fury,  trying  to  single  me  out  to  shoot 
me  without  killing  the  officer ;  but  by  this 
time  I  was  near  as  nimble  as  he,  keeping  the 
officer  in  suph  a  position  that  his  danger  wa& 
my  defence. 

But  in  less  than  half  a  minute,  I  was  at* 
tacked  by  lust  such  another  imp  of  hell. 
Then  I  maoe  the  officer  fly  round  with  incred- 
ible velocity  for  a  few  seconds  of  time,  when 
J^perceived  a  Can^di^n  (who  had  lost  ont^  ( /e, 
ps  appeared  afterwards)  taking  my  part  against 
the  savages  ,v  and  in  an  instant  an  Irishm^ 
came  to  my  assistance  with  a  fixed  bayonet, 
and  drove  away  the  fiends,  swearing  by  Jasus 
hewoqldkiO  them.    This  tragic  fcene  com- 
jR^d  iny  tpiij^, ,  The  escaping  from  sq  ,^w- 


EtHAN  ALLEN* 


33 


ful  a  death  made  even  imprisonment  happy  ; 
the  more  so  as  my  coc^uerors  on  the  field 
treated  me  with  great  civility  and  politeness. 

The  regular  officers  said  that  they  were 
very  happy  to  see  Col.  Allen-.  I  answered 
them,  that  I  should  rather  choose  to  have  seen 
them  at  Gen*  Montgomery's  <^mp.  The 
gentlemen  replied  that  they  gave  full  credit 
to  what  I  said,  and  as  I  walked  to  the  town, 
which  was,  as  I  should  guess,  more  than  two 
miles,  a  British  officer  walked  at  my  right 
hand,  and  one  of  the  French  nohlesse  at  my 
left ;  the  latter  of  which,  in  the  actiSb,  had 
his  eyebrow  carried  away  by  a  glancing  shot, 
but  was  nevertheless  very  merry  and  facetious, 
and  no  abuse  was  offered  me  till  I  came  to 
the  barrack' yard  at  Montreal,  where  I  met 
Gen.  Prescott,  who  asked  me  my  name, 
which  I  t<Ad  him. 

He  then  asked  me,  whether  I  was  that  G 
Allen  who  took  Ticonderoga.  I  told 
I  was  the  very  man*  Then  he  shook 
cane  over  my  head,  calling  mtiny  hard  na 
among  which  he  frequently  used  the  w< 
Rebel,  and  put  himself  into  a  great  rage, 
told  him  he  would  do  well  not  to  cane  me, 
for  I  was  not  accustomed  to  it,  and  shook  iby 
fist  at  him,  telling  him  that  that  wai  the  beetle 
of  mortality  for  him,  if  he  offered  to  strike ; 


{ 


»>M|IP% 


i:Mim»"!»-i'" 


m 


mmAjiY^  9]^ 


/ 


upoi)  >yhl^  CJapU  M'Cloud  (^  the  BritUh, 
puUied  hina  by  ^e  slcirt,  and  whispered  tp  him 
(as  he  afterwards  told  me)  to  tbi$  import; 
Uiat  it  waif»  inpQiisistent  with  bis  honor  to  strike 
a  prisoner.  lie  thep  ordered  a  s^rjeant'^ 
comoaand  with  fi^^d  bayonets  to  come  for- 
ward and  Kill  thirieisn  Canadians,  which  Wer? 
mclnded  in  the  treaty  aforesaid*  > 

Jt  ciiit  me  to  the  heart  to  see  the  Canadiao^ 
m  90  hard  a  case,  in  consequence  of  their 
having  be^  trpe  to  pis ;  they  were  wringing 
iheir  hands,  saying  their  prayers,  as  I  con^ 
i^j[¥ide#,  and  expected  inp^ediate  death*  I 
tih^r^fore  s|eppe4  between  the  exeoutionefa 
mU  tho  Canadians,  oi^oned  my  clothes,  and 
tpld  Qen.  Fr^scptt  tp  thrust  )ii9  bayonet  intP 
iBy  breast,  fpr;  J  was  th^  sple^eause  of  th? 
Canadiana  t^m^  up  ^ms. 

The  guard  in  the  mean  tijfpe,  rolling  their 
balls  from  the  Oeneral  to  me,  as  though 
lient,  waiting  his  dread  commands  to 
their  bay^ets  in  my  heart.  I  cpuld 
ever,  plainly  discern  that  he  was  in  a 

pense   a^d  quandary    about   the    matter. 

his  gave  me  additional  hopes  of  succeeding  ; 
for  my  design  v^^s  not  tp  die,  but  save  the 
Canadiai^  by  a  6neBse*  The  General  stood 
a  minuie,  when  he  made  me  the  foUpwing  re^ 
pfy  :  ^^I  mU  n0  esaecute  yeu  f^t^ ;  but  ^^)i 


Et&AN  ALLEN. 


3& 


'  Canadiao^ 
e  of  their 
e  \vriDging 

9S    I    COOr 

SOQUtipners 

a/onet  intp 
u«e  of  th? 

>Uing  their 
Q$  though 
3iiiaqd$  to 
'     I  could 
wa$   in  a 
B    matter, 
oceeding ; 
:  §«Fe  the 
3ral  stood 
lowing  re^ 
\  but  ^pfi 


shall  grace  a  hatter  at  Tythtrn,  G-^d  d—n  . 
ye.'' 

1  remember  I  disdained  his  mentioning  ' 
siibb  a  place.  I  was,  notwithstanding,  a*  little 
inwardly  pleased  with  tbe  expression,  as  it 
significantly  conveyed  to  me  the  idea  of  poitt 
poniiig  the  pretent  appearance  of  dt»fl^ ; 
besides  his  sentence  was  by  no  means  finals 
as  to  ^'gtacing  a  ^tfftef,"  although  1  had 
anxiety  aboui!  it  after  i  landed  in  England,  as 
the  reader  will  find^  in  th^  coarse  pf  this  his^ 
toi-y.  Giftn^ralPrescotitben  ordered  one  of 
his  offiibisrs  to  take  me  oti  board  the  Gaspee 
sdiooner  of  war,  and  confinieiiie,  hai^d^  ami  ^ 
feet,  in  irdn^v  which  was  done  the  samt)  afiliN 
noon  I' wasWtfcen.  -     ^     r 

The  ao'ion  continued  an  hbnr  and  thrfee 
quarters  by  the  watch,  and  I  know  not  to  this 
day  how  many  of  my  men  i^ere  killed,  though 
I  am  certain  theriB  were  but  few.     If  I  re- 
member right,  seven  were  wounded^  (me  o^^ 
them,  WiHliim  Stewart  by  name,  was  woiinddd' 
by  a  saVagO'  With^a  tomahawk,  after  he  #ili^ 
taki^n  prisoner  and  disarmedv,  but  Was  rescali^ 
by  some  of  the  generous  enemy;  and  so  fi#t1 
recovered  his  wounds,  that  he  afterwards  weilt 
with  the  Other  prisoners  to  Englaibd. 

Of  th^  enemy,  were  killed  a  Major  CardeoE* 
Whb  had  b^en  wounded  in  eleven  difieveit 


r 


.^^Mmm^v^" 


36 


NARRATIVE    OF 


battles,  and  an  emhient  merchant,  Patterson, 
of  Montreal,  and  some  others,  but  I  never 
knew  their  whole  loss,  as  their  accounts  were 
different.  I  am  apprehensive  that  it  is  r^^re^ 
that  so  much  ammunition  was  expended  and 
so  little  execution  done  by  it ;  though  such  of 
my  party  as  stood  the  ground  behaved  with 
great  fortitude,  much  exceeding  that  of  ihe 
enemy,  but  were  tiot  the  best  of  marksnien, 
and  I  am  apprehensive  were  all  k:  i/sd  or  taken; 
the  wounded  were  all  put  into  the  hospital  at 
Montreal,  and  those  that  were  not,  were  put 
on  board  of  dLSerent  vessels  in  the  river,  and 
ibackled  together  by  pairs,  viz.,  two  men 
ailNaed  together  by  one  handcuff,  being 
closely  fixed  to  one  wrist<of  each  of  them, 
and  treated  with  the  greatest  severity,  nay,  as 
criminals. 

I  now  come  to  the  description  of  the  irons, 
which  were  put  on  me.  The  handcuff  was 
of  a  common  size,  and  form,  but  my  leg  irons, 
I  should  imagine,  woul4  weigh  thirty  pounds  ; 
the  bar  was  eight  feet  long,  and  very  substan- 
tial ;  the  shackles  which  encompassed  my 
ancles,  were  vbry  tight.  I  was  told  by  the 
officer  who  put  them  on,  that  it  was  the  king's 
plate,  and  I  heard  other  of  their  officers  say, 
that  it  would  weigh  forty  weight.  The  irons 
Wire  so  close  upon  my  ancles,  that  I  could; 


■■■?i 


UtaXKCJkTXtV. 


8* 


inot  lie  dovvni  in  any  biher  'vnanner  'than  oh  my 
back.    I  was  put  imp  the  lowest  and  tnost 
wretched  part  of  tt^e  vessel,  whicve  Fgot  the 
favojr  of  a  cbest  todt  on  ;  tihe  same  atiswdreid 
fbi^  ixiy  bdd  at  night ,  and  ha^ii^g  prdcured  961^6 
little  blocks,  of  the  guard,  mh&j  day^a^idtiighF, 
with. fixed i  bay oiliets y  watched  over  wi6',  to  ky 
und«r  each  ebd  6f  the  lar^  bar  of  my  leg 
irotis^  to)  preserve!  ttty  Mm&&  Svath  gtiiMti^ 
while  I  set  on  the  chest,  1^  lay  ba<;fe  on  thfe 
sdmej  thoughviaQiost  of  iheitiibev  night atid  day, 
I  sdt  oh  iti  ;i!bat! at  ]eqgth> hav^ing  a  >dtd9ip^  tb 
lay  doiirtton  miy  side^  Mich  the  closfefliBSs  df 
thiei irons; fofbul, Idesired the  Qaptaiii  to Poos^h 
therti  foi"  that  purpo^ey  i^ut  was  dkfied  thfe 
favor.     The  Captaiii4  name  was  iRdyali;  #ho 
did)  n6t  seem  td  be  an  ill-natured  rMW  J  but 
,  dftentimes  isaid y  that  his  ^xpriess  ordej^s)  ifhte 
to)  treat;  line  witfe'sucshi  severityi  ^hlctt  Uras 
disagredable  to  h\k  oVii  feelings  ;  hoiif  did  hb 
evdir  insult  b)«,  thoiiigh  hrany  others,  whoidim^ 
/ton  bbanrd,  Jid.     Otie  of  fhfe  officeri^^  by  Ifre 
TiailQe  df  IBradlley,  was  very  genevoiis  lo  thW; 
be  would. often  derid  iwe  rictoals'frbm'hiji  ^n 
table! ;  jabr :  did  a  da^  fail,  but  that  be^ ^dnt  trie 
a  good  drink  of  gr<»§.''  '    J   .    '  > »!  i'  i-  •     ; 
- ;    The) reader  ii  now  inviiedi  bei(?kitcJi tHe^f ime 
I  was(  pull  intfci  irons.    T  requieBte4>1l«i  privi- 
\<s^e\o  write  to'  General  Prescott,  -wHlowwtts 


38 


NARRATIVE  OF 


granted.  I  reminded  him  of  the  kind  and 
generous  manner  of  my  treatment  to  the  pris- 
oners I  took  at  Ticonderoga ;  the  injustice 
and  ungentleman-like  usage,  which  I  had  met 
with  from  him,  and  demanded  geritleman-like 
usage,  but  received  no  answer  from  hm,  I 
soon  after  wrote  to  General  Carlton,  which 
met  the  same  success.  In  the  meanwhile 
many  of  those  who  were  permitted  to  see  me 
were  very  insulting. 

I  was  confined  in  the  manner  I  have  rela- 
ted, on  board  the  Gaspee  schooner,  about  six 
weeks ;  during  which  time  I  was  obliged  to 
throw  out  plenty  of  extravagant  language  which 
answered  certain  purposes,  at  that  time, 
better  than  to  grace  a  history. 

Togi^e  ail  instance,  upon  being  insulted,  in 
a  fit  of  anger  I  twisted  off  a  nail  with  my  teeth, 
which  I  took  to  be  a  ten-penny  nail ;  it  went 
through  the  mortise  of  the  bar  of  my  handcufT, 
end  at  the  same  time  I  swaggered  over  those 
who  abused  me  ;  particularly  a  Doctor  Dactf, 
who  told  me  that  1  was  outlawed  by  New 
York,  and  deserved  death  for  several  years 
past ;  was  at  last  fully  ripened  for  the  haher, 
and  in  a  fair  way  to  obtain  it. 

When  I  challenged  him,  he  excused  him- 
self in  consequence,  as  he  said,  of  my  being 
a  criminal.     But  I  flung  such  a  flood  of  Ian- 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


89 


guage  at  him  that  it  shocked  hin^  and  the  spec- 
tators) for  my  anger  was  very  great.  I  heard 
one  say,  damn  him,  can  he  eat  iron  ?  After 
that  a  small  padlock  was  fixed  to  the  handcoff 
instead  of  the  nail ; ,  and  as  they  were  mean- 
spirited  in  their  treatment  to  me,  so  it  appeared 
to  me,  that  they  were  equally  timorous  and 
cowardly.      •   ;     •  .  upl 

I  was  sent  with  the  prisoners  taken  with 
me  to  an  armed  vessel  in  the  river,  which  lay 
off  against  Quebec,  under  the  command  of 
.  Capt.  M'Cloud  of  the  British,  who  treated 
roe  in  a  very  generous  and  obliging  mannery 
and  according  to  my  rank ;  in  about  twenty- 
four  hours  I  bid  him  farewell  with  r^ret  ; 
but  my  good  fortune  still  continued.  The 
name  of  the  Captain  of  the  vessel  I  was  put 
on  board,  was  Littlejohn  ;  who,  with  his 
officers,  behaved  in  a  polite,  generous,  and 
frieqdly  manner.  I  lived  witlr  them  in  the 
cabin,  and  fared  on  the  best :  my  Irons  being 
taken  off,  contrary  to  the  order  he  had  received 
from  the  comman|]ing  officer ;  but  Capt. 
Littlejohn  swore  that  a  brave  man  should  not 
be  used  as  a  rascal  on  board  his' ship. 

Thus  I  found  myself  in  possession  of  hap- 
piness once  more,  and  the  evils  I  had  lately 
suffered  gave  me  an  uncommon  relish  for 
it. 


46 


NABmATlVB  OF 


- ) Oaptahi '  LiUitejoho  tised  to  go )  to  Quebec 
(^vieryi  day,  in  order  to  pay  his  respects  to  oer^ 
tain  gendemcui  and  ladies.;!  being  there  od;  a 
ciertaiD  dajj  be  bappeoed^to  meeti  with  some 
diisagneeable  treatment,  as;  he  imagined,  from 
k  Lseqt^uanC  of  a  man  of  mm^  and  one  vrord 
brought' on  another,  until  the  Lieutenant,  ohai- 
l^nged  him  to  a  duel  on  the  plains  of  Abva^ 
bam.  CapU  Littkjohn  was  a  gentleman  ivho 
enieoftaihed  a  high:  sense  of  honor,  and  could 
do  botkiBs  ihan  accent  the  cbaU^ge.:iiu;4£  il< 
1)'>  At  nine  lo^clock^be  mxt  morning  tbey  were 
to  6ghli^  ;  The  Gaptatn  returned  in  the  even* 
ing^. )  and  !ao(}aaihted  his  Lieutenant  and  ine 
with  the  afiair.  His  liiebtenaikt  !ivas  a  i  higbr 
bibbded'Sootchman  as  well  asiibimself^  wh6 
niplnd'td  Hit  Oapiflui  that  facjsbould  hot  want 
kfk  aiteeonik  /Wilii  thisili  iaterrufited  him^ 
kid  gave  the  Oaptiin!  to  undtotarid^'that  siike 
ad  opportunity  had  presented^l  would'  be 
ilad' to  testify  my  gratitudo  to  bkn,  by  acting 
the  part  6f  a  faiithftil  sec!oad,Qn  which  he  gave 
me  his  hand,  and  said  tbat^  he  wanted  no  better 
manL 

Says  he,  I  am  a  kiiig's  officer  v  and  you  a 
pfMOiiw  (under  my  care  ;  you  must  tfaei^ore 
gb'Mrlth'nie  to  the  plkcd  appointed  in  disguise^ 
add  added  further,  ^>  You, mu8(t  engaga  to  me, 
upon  the  honor  of  «  gentleipan,  that  whether 


•  •■  I 


ETHAN   ALLEN. 


41 


ots  to  cer 


I  die  or  live,  or  whatever  happens  (provided 
you  live)  that  you  will  return  to  my  Lieuten- 
ant on  board  this  ship.'' 

All  this  I  solemnly  engaged  him.  The 
combatants  were  to  discharge  each  a  pocket 
pistol,  and  then  to  fall  on  with  their  iron- 
hilted  muckle  whangers  ;  and  one  of  that  sort 
was  allotted  for  me  ;  but  some  British  ofQcers 
who  interposed  in  the  morning,  settled  the 
controversy  without  fighting. 

Now  having  enjoyed  eight  or  nine  days' 
happiness,  from  the  polite*and  generous  treat- 
ment of  Capt.  Littlejohn  and  his  officers,  I 
was  obliged  to  bid  them  farewell,  parting  with 
them  in  as  friendly  a  manner  as  vm  had  lived 
together,  which,  to  the  best  of  my  memory, 
wafe  the  eleventh  of  November.  When  a  de- 
tachment of  iGeneral  Arnold's  little  army  ap- 
peared on  Point  Levy,  opposite  Quebec,  who 
had  performed  an  extraordinary  march  through 
a  wilderness  country,  with  design  to  have 
surprised  the  capital  of  Canada,  I  was  th^n 
taken  on  board  a  vessel  called  the  Adamant, 
together  with  the  prisoners  tak^  with  me, 
and  put  under  the  power  of  an  English  mer- 
chant from  London,  whose  name  was  firook 
Watson  ;  a  man  of  malicious  and  cruel  dispo- 
sition, and  who  /.WMBPiat>ably  excited  in  the 


exercise  of  hi^^ 


e  by  n  junto  of 


(Dntariu 


4»' 


NAilAlttiyii'iO'P' 


t^ties,  Virbd  isalled  wHh  biiiij  to  KngJan^  ^ 
artioti^  'ifhtith  ^fere'^bkjtid!  Guy  Johtisdny 
Colonel  Gloss,  and  their<;dttendant8!&nd  asso*^' 
dmis,  to  tilfe  nufirtbfep  of  tiboiit  thi^tyjf^^  HA 

J'AHiih^ihSp'screwi,  Colonel  Gl6$s,  in  his 
pdi'Sdnall  behAvibt  fcxc^j^tedV  behaved  towards; 
thfe'  p^rii^briers  ^ith  that  spilth  of  bitterness, 
vrhkjfeii'ihe'  pfefculiar  charadteri«tic  of  tbties, 
'*lif*n  itbej  have  the  friends  df  America  in  their 
powejr,  measuring  their  ]«>ya)ty  to  the  English 
Klihg^  by  the  barbarity,*  frau^f ,  and'  deceit  which 
they  **erc4se  tcwartJs  the  whigs. 

^  A#^H>  pl^ce  in  t4>ie  vei^iel)  eticlc^ed  With* 
Whfit^  oak'^^laiikj  v^^^  adsig^ed'  fo^  the  prison^ 
dM,/«laird'ilW'  ttte'  atiiottg  the  l^t.  I  shouldi 
iritttgffife'th^lh  W^i  not  more  than 'k^ehty  feet 
ott^  #ayv'afrd  twefttytwo  the  other.  Intel  thif 
pJltte^^*  Wei<e  all,  lei  th*  humliei^  of  <  thirty- 
four,  ihri>t»t'  av^d  handcttfiy,  'l«Wy  Inri^oneri 
more  beitig  add^d  td  our' '  nuAiber^  > tod  worei 
j^-oylded  wfth  twH>  ttccremeht  tubs.  Jbthis; 
(^it^doitifcilfeOce  we  Were  ^%|iged>  to  oat  and 
p^^^hi  the  office  of  evaouatiOiiV  durfng  the 
Yoyagito  5*»6l*nd  ;  aod  wet^  insuhed  by  ev- 
ery bIaok|g^ei>d  sailor  and  tory  on  board v  in* 
tAe  orieHteM  manher  j  but  what  is  the  mmt 
surfn^ing^  is,  that  riot  one  bf' us  died  in  the 

lO  wlji'.M*    ^   v<l  ,  .ill  'lo 


-m 


4i  » 


•♦V 


tih. ■   ' 


eVUANULLSR. 


/ 


43 


'  Wiien  t  was'  fifst  ordered  to  go  ibto  Ihe 
filthy  encloisiure,  throbgb  a  shiall  sort  of  doop^i 
I-^ositrvely  refosed,  and  endeiavored  to  reason! , 
the  before-n&niied  Brook  Watson  out  of  a  oon-i 
dtict  ^o  derdgatory  to  every  sentiment  of 
honotfi  and' hutnamty^  but  all  to  no  purpose,; 
trif  ntenbeffig  forced  in  the  den  already ;  and 
the  Paseaiwhoihad  the  charge  of  the  prisonersji 
dommtn/ided  me  to  goi  immediately  in  iimong' 

tbe're^ti"'>   "  li'^iiv/    (n<:i;  ^m:  u    rAi  t:'ii:->.    . -•.' 

He  further  iadded,  thai  tb^  plilcv  was  good] 
^nougb  fdr  t  rebel ;  that;  k  vras  impertinent 
for  ti  capital  offender,  to  ^^Uc  of  honor  or  hu- 
manity-^thtit^ny  thing  suort  of  a  baker  was 
toti  «0od  ^r^m^-^nd  diat,  that  iii||^d  be^  my 
portion  80001  aifkiev  I  <  landed  in  England^for 
wfakb'purpbse  only  I  wa^  sent  thither.  ^ 

<  y Aboift  the  same  time  a  Lieutenant  anion^? 
the'ieiriesiilnsulted  me  in  a  grievous  minner^ 
saying  tbat' I  ought  to  have  been  executed  fo^: 
myif^eliiois  against  N^w  Yovk,  and  spit  iiD 
tttf  fale-  ;'!in>On  wbio|i,  though  I  was  hand*, 
ditff^^  i'snrang  at  btmi  \Mich  both  hands,  and 
kiiQ«*k0d'  bmi  partly  down,  but  he  scrambled^ 
aloiig  Hivo  the  oabini,  and  I  after  bim-^Mlheret 
hci'gcM  under  the  proteetibn  of  some  meb  with) 
fistedi  bayonets/ whck  were  ordered  to  make; 
r^ikly  to  dH*r#(fne  into  the  place  before  men^> 
tibtied.  20  lo  f^iii^  ,*  mU\  ndi  io  ih. 


/ 


44 


NARRATIVE  OF 


I  challenged  him  to  fight,  notwithstaoding 
the  impediments  that  were  on  my  hands,  and 
^  had  the  exalted  pleasure  to  see  the  rascal  trem- 
ble for  fear.  His  name  I  have  forgotten,  but 
Watson  ordered  his  guard  to  get  me  into  the 
place  with  the  other  prisoners,  dead  or  alive  ; 
and  I  had  almost  as  leave  die  as  do  it,  stand- 
ing it  out  till  they  environed  me  round  with 
bayonets — and  brutish,  prejudiced,  abandoned 
wretches  they  were,  from  whom  I  could  ex- 
pect nothing  but  death  or  wqunds. 

However,  'I  told  them  that  they  were  good 
honest  fellows— that  I  could  not  blame  them 
— that  1  was  only  in  dispute  with  a  calico 
merchant^ho  knew  not  how  to  behave  to- 
wards a  gentleman  p(  the  military  establish- 
ment. This  was  spoke  rather  to  appease 
them  for  my  own  preservation,  as  well  as  to 
treat  .Watson  with  contempt ;  but  still  I  fouifd 
that  they  were  determined  to  force  me  into 
the  wretched  circumstances,  which  their  pre- 
judiced, tod  depraved  minds  had  mpai%d  for 
liie.  Therefore  rather  than  die,  I  submitted 
to  their  indignities,  being  tlrove  with  bayonets 
into  the  filthy  dungeon,  with  tlie  other  prison- 
ers, where  we  were  denied  fresh  water,  except 
a  small  allowance  which  was  very  inadequate 
to  our  wants — and  in  consequence  of  the 
stench  of  the  place,  each  of  us  was  soon  fol- 


« 


B.TH AN   ALLEN. 


ere  good 
<ne  them 
a  calico 
ibave  to- 
sstabJiflh- 
appeaie 
»li  as  to 
I  I  fouifd 
me  into 
^eir  pre- 
ar%d  for 
bmitted 
ayooetf 
prison- 
except 
(equate 
of  tbe 
on  foi. 


lowedi  irith  a  diairrhoB  and  fev^r,  wbich  6c- 
easaoned  an  intolierable  thirsts  When  we> 
aaked.ht  watery^e  were  most  coimmonly,  iii<- 
'i^tead  of  obtaining  it,  insulted  and  derided—^ 
and  to  add  to  all  the  horrors  of  the  plaoO)  ib 
wasiso  dark  that  we  could  not  see  each  oth^t^f 
andi  were  o^rspread  with  body  lice*  .'Wei 
badv  notwithdt^ing  these  severities,  full  alH 
Ibwanbe  6f  salt*  proFisioos,' and;  a  gill  pf  FunK 
per  dayrr^the  latter  of  which  was  of  the  utmost 
serrice  to  us,  and  probably  A\ra8  the  means  of 
sari^ing  several  of  ouAT  livas:.        i'  u       > 

About  forty  days  I  me  existed  inrthis)  man- 
nen,  when  ihei  land  Venii>  of  (England  was  dis- 
eoveBtid  ifrom  the  maist  ;beadi^|Mp6n  .4ftiei! 
lirfaieh  the  prisonersi  i  werio  tisik^Mrbm  their 
gkibmy  '  abode^  ■>  <  beingc  perniitted  <  ioi  see ,  ihet 
highcofw  thekun^  and  breath  firteh  airy  v^hioh 
ilb  usi ''  was  T^ry  refreshing. .,  The  dfif^hiio^n 
ui^  iv« 'landed  at  Falmouth*  '^  i>  >!  .  riA. 

,t  A  few  days  beibre  I'was  taken  prisoner,  I 
shifiedl  my  clothes^  by  which  I  tiappenedl  to 
be  tdken  in  a  Caoadian  dressy  viz*^  a  abort 
lawn  ikiii  jacket:,  double  breasted,  an*  ttidsc-f 
vast  and  breeches  6f  fagaiohy,  wOrsjted  itocki 
Higa^  a  decent  pair  of  shoes,  two  plain  shirts, 
and  a  red  worsted  cap.  IJhii  was  all  the 
dk)thing  I  bad,  in  which  I  made  my  app«dr« 
ance  in!  England,  i I  ^nv 


•^ 


46 


NARRATIVE    Or 


When  the  prisoners  were  landed,  multitudes 
of  the  citizens  of  Falmouth,  excited  by  curi- 
osity, crowded  together  to  see  us,  which  was 

Equally  gratifying  to  us.  I  saw  numbers  of 
people  on  the  top  of  houses,  and  the  rising 
adjacent  grounds  were  covered  with  them  of 
both  sexes.  /  The  throng  was  so  great  that 
the  king's  officers  were  obliged  to  draw  their 
swords,  and  force  a  passage  to  Pendennis 
castle,  which  was  near  a  mile  from  the  town 
where  we  were  closely  confined,  in  conse- 
quence of  orders  from  Gen.  Carlton,  who 
toen  comofanded  in  Canada. 

The  rascally  Brook  Watson  then  set  out 
for  LondojMtp  great  haste,  expecting  the  re- 
ward of  hJKetd ;  but  the  ministry  received 
him,  as  I  have  been  since  informed^  rather 
coolly — for  the  minority  in  parliameat  took 
advantage,  arguing^  that  the  opposition  of 
America  to  Great  Britain,  was  not  a  rebelliob. 
If  it^is,  (say  they  ^  why  do  you  not  execute. 
Col.  All^n  according  to  law  ?  But  the  mi* 
jority  argued  that  I  ought  iq  be  executed,  and 

.  that  the  opposition  was  really  a  rebellion— 
but  that  policy  obliged  them  not  to  do  h^* 
inasmuch  as  the  Congress  had  then  most  pris- 
oners in  their  power — so  that  my  being  seat 
to  England  for  the  purpose  of  being  executed^ 
and  necessity  restraining  them,  was  rather  i 


<> 


ETHAN  ALLE^. 


47 


ibil  on  their  laws  and  authority,  and  they  con- 
sequently disapproved  of  my  being  sent  thither. 
But  I  never  had  heard  the  least  bint  of  thos% 
debates  in  narliament,  or  of  the  working  of 
their  policy,,  until  some  time  after  I  left  Eng- 
land. 

Consequently  the  reader  will  readily  con- 
ceive I  was  anxious  about  my  preservation, 
knowmg  that  I  was  in  the  power  of  a  haughty 
and  cruel  nation,  considered  as  such.  There- 
fore the  first  proposition  which  I  determined 
in  my  own  mind  was,  that  humanity  and  moral 
suasion  would  not  be  consulted  in  the  deter- 
mining of  my  fate.  And  those  that  daily 
came  ra  great  numbers,  out  of  cuillsity  to  see 
me,  both  gentle  and  simple  united  in  this, 
that  I  would  be  hanged.  A  gentleman  from 
America,  by  the  name  of  Temple,  and  who 
was  friendlv  to  me,  just  whispered  me  in  the  . , 
ear,  and  told  me  thai  bets  were  laid  in  Lon- 
don, that  I  would  be  executed— 'he  likev/ise 
privately  gave  me  a  guinea,  but  durst  say  but 
little  to  me.  * 

However,  agreeable  to  my  first  negative 
)[>roposition,  that  moral  virtue  would  not  influ- 
ence my  destiny,  I  had  recourse  to  stratagem, 
which  I  was  in  hopes  would  move  in  the  cir- 
cle of  their*policy.  I  requested  of  the  com- 
mander of  the  castle  the  privilege  of  writing 


• 


m 


NARBATI¥S:QF 


to>  Cotigteaay  who*  after  coiwultiiig  i  with ;  JH 
.officetr  tJbat  lived  intowii,  of  a  su^ejrior  rai)k, 
i^erknitt^d  !.me  tolwritei  liWrbte^  ifl  tl*  f<P«e 
tpartiof  the  letter,  a  short  oai'l'ativeiof  my!  ill- 
{reatrrieott-but  withal  let  itheni  kmvf^  that 
though  I  was  treated  as  a  criminal  in  England, 
-md  eJontimied  in  i)x>n3,  together  with  those 
.tfikea  .with  moy  )fet  il  was  in  coosequeHo^  of 
thb  ord^'S (Which  the; commaiaderoif  thei  oftstlie 
reoelfisd  from  Gen*  Garlton^aBd  therelfiore 
I  desired  i<Coingreisi3//tQ  >^ifit  from  inatteP9i()t>f 
iretali^ttion^  tuDtU  ittioy:  s)Mwld'  khowrthe  /result 
of  the  gbverriment  at;  England],  rejspeeting  their 
t^eatraeot  towahd^)m^,  audi  ,th9:prisloner9!iwijth 

,  fj»e^ ;  anct  llsver d  themsdv^s  ■.  aocordkig^v  writh 
,a: .  iparticuhu!  rcqiiefst,  thilt  lif  r^iiation  ishoukl 
( be  ifound  necessiiu'y , . that  it  imighf  tbiE^texelrois^ 
(jBiat  according :t6  the^smalfnesalof /iiby  chavaef^r 
iiB  Anieri(^B^  but  iki' probortiimtylovilheJibp^^ 
'aocfeicif  tbei  cause  for; ^moh  I  sufihred*  r;  This 
(is,  ad:6rdiBg !  lo  my  prebeht  reiCoMeelloq^^be 
iBiibetance.  df  ithle  lelter  ^ubscnibed    TatftAi^- 

^  iustrious  continental  Congress,     I'hifl  ktfiir 

•wiaswTote  iitrith  a  viewf  bl^iit.shoiiild  bid  isent 

^  U^i  itheoininistry  at  liondoa*^  rathfar  than  :to  p^oif- 

gressf  with  a  design  it^imdmidflte  the  haughty 

EagliiErh  jgo^rmnistaty  and  screen  m^r/n^okifiiom 

-tbo'^hi^r^  l)'j)^'Hjpyi  {  '  .7')![oq*;i!:>fh  "lo  '>I* 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


49 


The  naxt  day  the  officer)  from  whom  I 
obtained  liqeDse  to  write,  came  to  see  me^ 
and  frowned  oq  me  on  account  of  the  impu- 
dence of  the  letter,  as  he  phrased  it,  and  fur^ 
ther  added,  ^<  Do  you  think  that  we  are  fools 
in  England,  and  would  send  your  letter  to 
Congress,  with  instructions  to  ret^iateon  our 
own  people.  I  have  sent  your  letter  to  Lord' 
North."  * 

This  gave  me  inward  satisfaction,  thdugh  I 
rareMly  concealed  il  with  a  pr^ended  re- 
sentment, for  I  found  I  bad  come  Yankee 
over  htm,  and  that  the  letter  had  gone  to  the 
ic^ntical  person  I  designed  it  for,  thou^  t 
h^ve  not  heard  any  thing  of  the  letter  since* 

My  personal  treatment  by  Lieut.  Hamtlton, 
who  coram|tnided  the  castle^  was  very  generl- 
ous.  He  sent  me  dvery  day  a  fine  breaklaM 
and  dinner  from  his  own  table,  and  a  bottle  of 
good  wine.  Another  agedgentlemaQ,  whose 
name  I  cannot  recollect,  sent  me  a  good  sup- 
per. But  th^re  was  no  distinction  in  pubHe 
support  between  me  and  tbe  priVates--*we  all 
lodged  on  a  sort  of  ii>utch  bunks,  in  one  com* 
moQ  apartment,  and  were  allowed  straws 
The  privates  were  well  supplied  with  fresh 
provision,  and  with  me  took  e&ctual  mesf 
sures  to  rid  ourselves  of  lice. 


U  71; 


60 


NARRATIVE  OP 


I  could  not  but  feel,  inwardly,  extremely 
anxious  for  my  fate.  This  I  however  cod^ 
cealed  from  the  prisoners,  as  well  as  from  the 
enemy,  who  were  perpetually  shaking  thd 
halter  at  me.  I  nevertheless  treated  them 
with  scorn  and  contempt ;  and  having  sent 
my  letter  to  the  ministry,  could  conceive  of 
nothing  more  in  my  power  but  to  keep  up  my 
spirits,  behave  in  a  daring,  soldier-like  man- 
>  ner,  that  I  might  exhibit  a  good  sample  of 
Americjun  fortitude.  Such  a.conduct  T  judged 
would  have  a  more  probable  tendency  to  my 
preservation  than  concession  and  timidity. 

ThiS;  therefore,  was  my  deportment,  and  I 
liad  lastly  determined,  in  my  own  mind,  that 
if  a  cruel  death  must  ^inevitably  be  my  portion, 
I  would  face  it  undaunted,  and  though  1  greatly 
rejoice  that  I  h^Ve  returned  to  my  country 
and  friends,  and  to  see  the  power  and  pride 
of  Great  Britain  humbled — yet  1  ani  confident 
I  could  then  die  without  the  least  appearance 
of  dismay. 

I  now  clearly  recollect  that  my  mind  was 
so  resolved,  that  I  would  not  have  trembled 
or  shown  the  least  fear,  as  I  was  sensible  it 
could  not  alter  my  fate,  nor  do  more  than  re- 
proach my  memory,  make  my  last  act  despi- 
cable to  my  t.iemies,  and  eclipse  the  other 
actions  of  my  life.     For  I  reasoned  thus,  that 


£THAN  ALLEN. 


51 


nothing  was  more  common  than  for  men  tci, 
die,  with  their  friends  round  them,  weeping 
and  lamenting  over  them,  but  not  able  to  help 
themj  which  was  in  reality  not  different  in  the 
consequence  of  it  from  such  a  death  as  I  was 
apprehensive  of.  And  as  death  was  the  natural 
consequence  of  animal  life,  to  which  the  laws 
of  nature  subject  mankind,  to  be  timorous  and 
uneasy  as  to  the  event  or  manner  of  it,  was 
iflcbnsisient  with  the  character  of  a  philoso- 
pher or  soldier.  'The  cause  I  was  engaged 
in  I  ever  viewed  worthy  hazarding  my  life 
for,  nor  was  I,  at  the  most  critical  moments 
of  trouble,  sorry  that  I  engaged  in*it — ^and  as 
to  the  world  of  spirits,  though  I  knew  nothing 
of  the  mode  or  manner  of  it,  expected  never- 
theless, when  I  should  arrive,  at  such  a  world, 
that  I  should  be  as  well  treated  as  other  gen- 
tlemen of  my  merit.  ^ 

Among  the  great  numbers  of  people  who 
came  to  the  castle  to  see  the  prisoners,  somd 
gentlemen  told  me  that  they  had  come  fifty 
miles  on  purpose  to  see  me,  and  desired  to 
ask  roe  a  number  of  questions,  and  to  make 
free  with  me  in  conversation.  I  gave  for 
atiswer,  that  I  chose  freedom  in  every  sense 
of  the  word.  Then  one  of.  th^m  asked  me 
what  my  occupation  in  life  had  been  ?    I  an- 


a2 


NAKBATIVS    or 


9wered  biin>  tirat  in  my  younger  days  I  Lad 
studied  divinity,  but  was  a  conjuror  by  pro^ 
fession.  He  replied  that  I  conjured  wrong 
at  the  time  I  y^as  taiseo  ;  and  I  was  obliged  to 
own,  that  jl  mistook  a  figure  at  that  time,  but 
Hbat  I  had  conjured  them  out  of  Ticonderoga. 
This  wjsiB  a  piece  of  great  notoriety  in  £ng^ 
laad,  so  X\u^  the  jc^e  iseemed  to  go  in  my 
iairor.  '^  ibrffmrtt  i<>  /^i  yiH  m'nH  'Ism&u 
It  ivias  a  oommojD  thing  for  me  to  be  taken 
out  of  close  cotifinement^  iBto  a  spacious  groen 
in  the -castk,  ori^ather  parade,  where  numbers 
of  geatlcmen  and  ladies  were  ready  to  see  and 
hear  rae.    *  mni 

^^! I  ofteu  entertained  such  audiences  vi^ith 
harangues  on  the  impracticability  of  Great 
Brttain'^  eooqiierrng  the  then  colonies  of 
America.  At  (me  of  these  times  I  asked  a 
gentleman  for  a  bowl  of  punch,  and  be  ordered 
his  servant  to  bring  it,  which  he  did.,  end 
offered  it  me^  but  I  refused  to  take  it  from  the 
hand  of  his  servant.  He  then  gave  it  to  me 
with  his  own  hand V  refusing  to  drink  with  me 
ifr  consequence  of  ray  being  a  state  criminal. 
However,  I  took  the  punch  and  drank  it  all 
down  at  one  draught,  and  handed  the  gemle- 
maniibei'  bowL  This  made  the  spectators  as 
weil  as  myself  merry. 


.,;■,  1  '■ 


ETHAN   ALLEIf. 


99 


"^^'1  expatiated  on  American  freedom.  This 
gained  the  resentment  of  a  young  beardless 
gentleman  of  the  company,  ^ho  gave  himself 
very  great  airs,  and  replied,  that  he '*  knew 
the  Ameficdns  very  well,  and  was  certain  that 
they  could  not  bear  the  smell  of  powder." 
I  replied,  that  I  accepted  it  as  a  challenge, 
and  was  ready  to  convince  him  on  the  spot 
that  an  American  could  bear  the  smell  of 
powder — at  which  he  answered  that  he  should 
hot  put  himself  on  a  par  with  me.  I  then 
demanded  of  him  to  treat  the  character  of  the 
Americans  With  due  respect.  He  answered 
that  I  was  an  Irishman—  but  I  assured  him 
that  I  was  a  full  blooded  Yankee ^nnd  in  fine,, 
bantered  htm  so  much  that  he  left  me  in  pos- 
session of  the  field,  and  the  laugh  went  against 
him.  Two  clergymen  came  to  see  me,  and 
inasmuch  as  they  behaved  with  civility,  I  re- 
turned them  the  same.  We  discoursed  on 
'  several  part»  of  moral  philosophy  and  chrtst- 
ianity— and  they  seemed  to  be  surprised  that 
I  should  be  acquainted  with  such  topics,  or 
that  I  should  understand  a  syllogism  or  regu- 
lar mood  of  argumentation.  I  am  apprehen- 
sive my  Canadian  dress  contributed  not  a  lit- 
tle to  the  surprise,  and  excitement  of  curios- 
ity.   To  see  a  gentleman  in  England,  regn- 


^&t'' 


NAERAT1V£    OF 


larly  dre98ed  and  well  behaved,  would  be  no 
sight  ^i  all — bMt  such  a  rebel,  as  they  wer& 
pleased  to  call  me,  it  is  probable  was  never 
before  seen  in  England. 
,■  The  prisoners  were  landed  at  Falmouth  a 
few  days  before  Christmas,  and  ordered  on 
board  of  the  Solebay  frigate,  Capt.  Syraonds, 
the  eighth  A^ay  of  January,  1776,  when  our 
hand  irons  were  taken  off.  vThis  remove 
was  in  consequence  (as  I  have  since  been  in- 
fbrmeil)  of  a  i^it  of  habeas  corpus,  which 
had  been  procured  by  some  gentlemen  in  £ns 
gland)  in  order  to  obtain  me  my  liberty. 

.The  SoUbay,  with  sundry  other  men  of 
war,  and  about  forty  transports,  rendezvoused 
at  t^e  CQV«  of  Cork  in  Ireland,,  to  take  :u 
proiiision  and  water.  *     f*  ^,^ 

,  Wh^n  w«  were  first  brought  on  board, 
Capt  Syvrionds  ordered  all  the  prisoners,  and 
roost  of  the  bands  on  board,  to  go  on  deck, 
and  caused  to  be  read  in  their  hearing  a  cer- 
tfiin  code  of  ,laws,  or  Tules  foe  the  regulation 
and  ordering  of  their  behavior  ;  and  then  in  a 
sovereign  manner,  ordered  the  prisoners,  me 
in  particular,  off  the  deck,  and  never  to  come* 
on  jt  again  ;  for,  said  he,  this  is  a  place  for 
gentlemen  to  walk.  So  I  went  off,  an  officer 
folkniving  me,  who  told  me,  that  he  would 
show  me  the  place  allotted  for  me,  and  took 


ETHAN  fA^f#^\ 


^ 


me  do\^n  to  the  cablQ  tier,  saying  to  me,  this 
is  your  place. 

Prior  to  this  )  had  taken  cold,  by  which  I 
was  in  an  ill  state  of  health,  and  did  not  say 
much  to  the  offiper ;  but  stayed  there  that 
night,  consulted  my  policy,  and  found  I  was 
in  an  evil  case  ;  that  a  Captain  of  a  man  of 
war  was  more  arbitrary  than  a  King^as  he 
could  view  his  territory  wjth  a  look  oi  his 
,eye,  ^nd  a, movement  of  his  finger  command' 
ed  obedience,'-T-I  felt  myself  more  desponding 
than  I  l^ad  done  &t  liny  time  before ;  for  ( 
concluded  it  to  be  a  governmental  scheme,  to 
do  that  clandestinely,  which  policy  Ibrbid  to  be 
done  lander  sanction  of  public  justice  and  Iaw» 

However,  twip  days  ^^^^  ^  shaved  and 
cleaned  myself 'as  well  as  X  cou^,  and  w^nt 
on  deck.  /Tbe,  Captain  ^poke  to^^eii^  agre^t 
rage,  and  sAid,  >'  Did  1  not  ofder  you  not  to 
come  on  deck  ?'*  I  answered  him,  thai  at  the 
same  tin(us  hp  said,  *'  That  it  was  the  place 
for  gentlemen  to  walk  :"  That  I  was  Col. 
Allen,  but  had  not  been  properly  introduced 
to  him.  He  replied,  ^^  G — d  damn  you^  Sir, 
be  careful  not  to  walk  the  same  side  of  the 
deck  that  I  do."  This  gave  me  encourage- 
ment, and  ever  after  tliat  1  walked  in  the  man- 
ner he  had  directed,  except  when  be,  at  cer« 
tain  times  afterwaids,  ordered  me  onT in  a  pas* . 


5e 


NARRATIVE   OF 


sion,  ;  I  would  then  directly  afterwards  go 
on  again,  telling  him  to  command  his  slaves, 
that  I  was  a  gentleman,  and  had  a  right  to 
walk  the  deck  ;  yet  when  he  expressly  or- 
dered me  off,  I  obeyed,  not^out  of  obedience 
to  him,  but  to  set  an  example  to  his  ship's 
crew,  who  ought  to  obey  him. 

To  walk  to  the'windvvard  side  of  the  deck, 
is,  accordrng  to  custom,  the  prerogative  of  the 
Captain  of  the  man  of  war,  though  he  often- 
times, nay  commonly  walks  with  his  Lieu- 
tenants, when  no  strangers  are  by.  When  a 
Captain  from  some  other  man  of  war  comes 
on  board,  the  Captains  walk  to  th^  windward 
side,  and  the  other  gentlemen  to  the  leeward. 

It  was  but  a  few  nights  I  lodged  in  the  cable 
tire,' before  I  gained  an  acquaintance  wtth  the 
master  of  arms,  flis  nam^e  Was  Qillegan,  an 
Irishman,  who  was  a(  generotis  and  well  dis^ 
posed  man,  and  lA  a  friendly  manner  made  me 
•  proffer  of  living  with  him  in  a  little  birth, 
whioh  was  allotted  him  between  decks,  and 
enclosed  with  canvas ;  his  preferment  on 
board  was  about  equal  to  that  of  a  serjeant  in 
i  regiment.  I  was  comparatively  happy  in 
the  aceeptarice  of  his  ciemency,  and  lived 
with  him  in  friendship,  until  the  frigate  an- 
chored in  the  harbor  of  Cape  Fear,  North 
Carolina,  in  America. 


ETHAN   ALtiiPN. 


^7 


.  iNolhbg  of  materia}  consequonce  bappeiie<( 
uatil  .the  fleet  rendezvoused  at  the  eoye  qf 
Corkfe  except  a  violent  storm  wliich  brouglit 
old  harcfy  aaHiMrs.  to  theiir  prayers.  It  was 
sooo  rwnored  in  Cork  that  I  was  on  board  the 
Solebay^  with  «!  number  of  prisoners  from 
America — >ipon  which  Messrs.  Clarke  and 
Hay^^  i^i*^-  ^u^ittii  in  company,  and  a  number 
qi  other  /  ;  Qvolently  disposed  i^endemen^ 
contributed  largely  tp  the  relief  tmd  lupport 
Qf  (the  prisoners,  who  were  thirtyfbur  in  mm? 
ber,  and  in  very  needy  circumslapeea.  4l 
suit  of  elotjbes  from  bead  to  foot^  .inoludiQg  m' 
overcoat,  or  4uitout,  and  two  ahirU,  were  ber 
stowed  on  each  of  them.  My  suil  I  reqeivecl 
in  superfine  bioadokMb,  >  sumcient  for  two 
jackets,  and  two  pair  of  bfeeches,overpilu4  of 
a  suit  tbrotighoiit,  eight  fina  HoU%ad  shirks  mA 
aockf  r^dy  made,  with  a  number  of  pairs  of 
ailk  and  worsted  hose,  two  pair  of  shoea,  twa 
beaver  hats,  one  of  which  was  sent  me  richfy 
laced  with  gold,  by  Mr.  James  BonwelJ.  Tbo 
Irish  gentienten  furthermore  made  a  largis 
gratuity  of  yf'ioes  of  the  best  sort,  old  spiHtS) 
Geneva,  k)af  and  brown  sugar,  co0eei  tea  and 
chocolate,  with  a  large  round  of  pickled  beef, 
end  a  number  of  fat  turkies,  with  many  other 
articles, ibr  oay^sea  atores,  too  tedious  te  men* 


m 


NARRATIVE  OF 


tion  here.  To  the  privates  they  bestowed,  to 
each  man  two  pounds  of  tea,  and  six  pounds 
of  sugar.  These  articles  were  received  on 
board,  at  a  time  when  the  Captain  and  first 
Lieutenant  were  gone  on  shore,  by  permission 
of  the  second  Lieutenant,  a  handsome  young 
gentleman,  who  was  then  under  twenty  years 
of  age ;  his  name  was  Doi:^lass,  the  son  of 
Admiral  Douglass,  as  I  have  been  informed* 
As  this  munificence  was  so  unexpected  and 
plentiful,  I  may  add  needful,  it  impressed  on 
By  mind  the  highest  sense  of  gratitude  towards 
mv  benefactors ;  for  I  was  not  only  supptie4 
With  the  necessaries  and  conveniences  ol  life, 
kit  with  the  grandeur  and  superfloities  of  it. 
Mr.  Hays,  one  of  the  donators  before  men- 
tioned, came  o^  board,  and  behaved  in  the 
most  obliging  manner,  telling  me  that  he  hoped 
mv  troubles  were  past,  for  that  the  gentlemen 
61  Cork  determined  to  make  my  sea-storet 
equal  to  the  Captain  of  the  8o]ebay's;  he 
made  a  proffer  of  live  stock,  and  wherewith  to 
support  them — but  I  knew  this  would  be  de- 
nied. And  to  crown  all,  did  send  to  me  by 
another  person  fifty  guineas,  but  I  could  not 
reconcile  the  receiving  the  whole  to  my*  own 
feelings*  as  it  might  have  the  appearance  of 
avarice ;  and  therefore  received  but  seven 
guineas  only  ;  and  am  confident  not  only  from 


ETHAN   ALLEN. 


59 


the  exerci$6  of  the  present  well-timed  gene- 
rositjT,  but  from  a  large  acquaintance  with  gen- 
tlemen of  this  nation,  that  as  a  people  they 
excel  in  liberality  and  bravery. 

Two  days  after  the  receipt  of  the  aforesaid 
donations,  Captain  Syvnonds  came  on  board, 
full  of  envy  towards  the  prisoners,  and  swore 
by  ail  that  is  good,  that  the  damned  American 
rebels  should  not  be  feasted  at  this  rate  by 
the  damned  rebels  of  Ireland  ;  he  therefore 
took  away  aU  my  liquors  before-mentioned, 
except  some  of  the  wine  which  was  secreted, 
and  a  two  gallon  jug  of  old  spirits  which  was 
reserved  for  me,  per  favor  of  Lieutenant 
^I>ouglass.  The  taking  my  liquors  was  abom* 
inable  in  his  sight ;  he  therefore  spoke  in  my 
behalf,  until  the  Captain  was  angry  with  him. 
And  in  consequence,  proceeded  and  took 
away  all  the  tea  and  sugar  whith  had  been 
given  to  the  other  prisoners,  and  confiscated 
it  to  the  use  of  the  ship^s  crew.  Our  clothing 
was  not  taken  away,,  but  the  privates  were 
forced  to  do  duty  on  board.  Soon  after  this 
there  came  a  boat  to  the  side  of  the  ship,  and 
Capt.  Symonds  asked  a  gentleman  that  was 
in  iL  in  my  hearing,  what  his  business  was,  * 
who  answered  that  he  was  sent  to  deliver* 
some  sea-stores  to  Col.  Allen,  which,  if  I  re^^* 
member  right,  he  said  were  sent  from  Dublin ; 


m 


MArBRATIVB  OF 


but  tlie  Captaio  danaoed  b^m  very  heartily) 
ordened  him  away  from  the  ship,  and  would 
not.  su&r  him  to  deliver  the  stores.  I  was 
furthermore  informfed,  that  the  geiitletnen  io 
Cork  requested  of  Captain  S^ymonds  tlmt  I 
might  be  allowed  to  ceme  into  the  city^  ao^ 
that  they  would  be  responsible  I  should  return 
to  (be  frigate  at  a  given  time,  wblcbiwas  der 
nied  them.  ;    ,U:  ;' 

We  sailed  from  Eagland  the  8tb  dayof 
January,  and  from  the  cove  of  Cork  the  l^tb 
(jlay  of  February.  Just  before  we  sailed,  the 
prisoners  with  me  were  divided^  and  put  lon 
board  three  different  ships  of  war»  This 
{;ave  me  some  uneasineasi  for  Ihey  wete  to  a 
man  zealous  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  b«i- 
baved  with  a  becoming  fortitude  in  the  various 
scenes  of  their  captivity ;  but  those  who  were 
distfibuted  0(1  board  oth^r  ships  of  war,  were 
.much  better  used  than  those  that  tarried  with 
roe,  as  appeared  afterwards.,  When  Hie  fleet, 
consisting  of  about  Igrtyflve  sail,  including 
forty 6ve  men  of  war,  sailed  from  thd  cove 
with  a  fresh  breeze,  the  appearance  was  beau- 
tiful, abstracted  from  the  uniitsl  and  bk>ody 
I  designs  they  had  in  view.  We  had  not  sailed 
^  many  days  before  a  mighty  storm  arose,  it^bich 
*  lasted  tvtentyfour  hours  without  intefraissioii. 
The  tilind  blew  with  relentless  fury^  and  no 


ETHAN  AlXSIf. 


61 


man  could  femain  on  msck,  ^..cept  he  was 
lashed  fiBt,  for  the  waves  rolled  over  the  deck 
hy  turns,  with  a  forcible  rapidity,  and  every 
soul  oh  board  was  anxious  for  the  preservation 
of  the  ship,  alias  their  lives.  In  this  storm 
the  Thunder-bomb  man  of  war  sprang  a  leak, 
and  was  afterwards  floated  to  some  part  of  the 
coast  of  England,  and  the  crew  saved.  We 
were  then  j^aid  to  be  in  the  Bay  of  Biscaya 
After  the  storm  abated,  I  could  plainly  discern 
that  the  prisoners  were  better  used  for  some 
considerable  time. 

Nothing  of  consequence  hap])ened  after 
this^  till  we  h^  sailed  to  the  island  of  Madeira, 
except  a  certain  favor  whidi  I  received  of 
Captain  Symonds,  in  consequence  of  an  am)Ii- 
cation  I  niade  tq  him,  ibr  the  privilege  of  his 
tailor  to  make  a  suit  of  clothes  of  the  cloth 
bestowed  on  me  in  Ireland,  which  he  gener- 
ously granted.  'I  could  then  walk  the  deck 
wilh  a  seeming  better  grace.  When  we  had 
reached  Madeira,  and  anchored,  sundry  gen-* 
tlemen,  with  the  Captain,  went  on  shore,  who 
I  conclude,  gave  the  rumor  that  I  was  in  the 
frigate ;  upon  which  I  soon  after  found  Irish 
generosity  was  again  excited  ;  for  a  gentleman 
of  thb  nation  sent  his  clerk  on  board,  to  know 
of  me  if  I  would  accept  a  sea-store  from  him, 
particularly  of  wine.     This  mat|||ktl|  iNbde 


62 


l^ARRATIVE  OP 


known  to  the  generous  Lieut.  Douglass,  who 
readily  granted  me  the  favor,  provided  the 
articles  could  be  brought  on  board  during  the 
time  of  bis  command  ;  adding  that  it  would  be 
a  pleasure  to  him  to  serve  me,  notwithstanding 
the  opposition  he  met  with  before.  So  I  di- 
rected the  gentleman's  clerk  to  inform  him 
that  I  was  greatly  in  need  of  so  signal  a  chari- 
ty, and  desired  the  young  gentlemtin  to  make 
the  utmost  despatch,  which  he  did  ;  but  in 
the  mean  time,  Capt.  Symonds  and  his  officers 
came  on  board,  and  immediately  made  ready 
for  filing — the  wind  at  the  same  time  being 
fair,  set  sail  when  the  young  gentleman  was  in 
fair  sight  with  the  aforesaid  store. 

The  reader  will  doubtless  recollect  the 
s,even  guineas  I  received  at  the  cove  of  Cork. 
These  enabled  me  to  purchase  of  the  purser 
what  I  wanted,  had  not  the  Captain  strictly 
forbid  it,  though  I  made  sundry  applications 
'o  him  for  that  purpose  ;  but  his  answer  to 
me,  when  I  was  sick,  was,  that  it  was  ho  mat- 
ter how  soon  I  was  dead,  and  that  he  was  no 
ways  anxious  to  preserve  the  lives  of  rebels, 
but  wished  them  eH  dead  ;  and  indeed  that 
was  the  language  of  most  of  the  ship's  crew. 
I  expostulated  not  only  with  the  Captain  but 
with  other  gentlemen  on  board,  on  the  un- 
reasonableness of  such  usage ;  inferring,  that 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


63 


inasmuch  as  the  government  in  England  did 
not  proceed  against  me  as  a  capital  otfender, 
they  should  not;  for  that  they  were  by  no 
means  empowered  by  , any  authority,  either 
civil  or  military,  to  do  so :  for  the  English 
government  had  acquitted  me  by  sending  me , 
back  a  prisoner  of  war  to  America,  and  that 
they  should  treat  me  as  such.  I  further 
drew  an  inference  of  impolicy  on  them^  pro- 
vided they  should,  by  hard  usage,,  destroy  my 
life  ;  inasmuch  as  I  might,  if  living,  redeem 
one  of  their  offiers ;  but  the  Captain  replied, 
that  he  needed  no  directions  of  mine  how  to 
treat  a  rebel ;  that  the  British  would  conquer 
the  American  rebels,  hang  the  Congress, ^aud 
such  us  promoted  the  rebellion^  me  in  par- 
ticular, and  retake  their  own  prisoners  ;  so 
that  my  life  was  of  no  consequence  in  the 
scale  of  their  policy.  I  gave  him  for  answer, 
that  if  they  stayed  till  they  conquered  Amer- 
ica befoie  they  hanged  m€,  I  should  die  of 
old  age,  and  desired  that  till  such  an  event 
took  place,  he  would  at  least  allow  me  to  pur- 
chase of  the  purser,  for  my  own  money,  si  h 
articles  as  I  greatly  needed  ;  But  be  would 
not  permit  it,  and  when  I  reminded  him  of 
the  generous  and  civil  usage  that  their  prison- 
ers in  captivity  in  America  met  with,  he  said 
that  it  was  not  owing  to  their  goodness,  but 


64 


NARRATIVE    OF 


to  their  timidity  ;  for,  said  he,  they  etpect  to 
be  conquered,  and  therefore  dare  not  misuse 
our  prisoners,  and  in  fact  this  was  the  language 
of  the  British  officers  till  Gen.  Burgpyne  was 
taken/^  (happy  event)  and  not  only  of  the  offi- 
cers, but  of  the  whole  British  army.  I  appeal 
to  my  brother  prisooers,  that  have  been  with 
the  British  in  the  southern  departn^ent,  for  a 
confirmation  of  what  I  have  advanced  on  this 
subject.  The  surgeon  of  the  Solebay,  whose 
name  is  North,  was  a  very  humane  and  ob- 
liging man,  and  took  the  best  car^  of  the^ 
prisoners  whp  'were  sick. 

The  third  day  of  May  we  cast  anchor  in 
the  harbor  of  Cape  Fejar,  in  North  Caroling 
as  did  Sir  Peter  Parker's  ship  of  fifty  guns  a 
little  back  of  'the  bar,  for  there  was  no  depth 
of  water  for  him  to  come  into  the  harbor. 
These  two  met  of  \Var  and  fourteen  sail  of 
transports  and  others,  came  after,  so  that  most 
of  the  fleet  rendezvoused  at  Cape  Fear,  for 
three  weeks.  The  soldiers  on  board  the 
trao^ports  were  sickly,  in  consequence  of  so 
l(|ng  a  passage^r-add  to  this,  the  small  pox 
carried  c^  many  of  them  :  they  landed  on  the 
main  and  formed  a  camp,  but  the  riflemea 
annoyed  them,  and  caused  them  to  move  to  an 
island  in  the  harbor — but  such  cursing  of 
riflemen  I  never  heard. 


ETHAN   ALLEN; 


65 


A  detachment  of  regulars  was  sent  up  Bruns- 
wick'river  ;  as  they  laJfided,  were  fired  on  by 
those  marksman,  and  they  came  back  next 
day,  damning  thd  rebels  for  their  unmanlv  way 
of  fighting,  and  swearing  that  they  wouffl  give 
no  quarter,  for  they  took  sight  at  them,  and 
were  behind  timber^  skulking  about.  One  of 
the  detachments  said  they  lost  one  man — but 
a  negro  man  who  was  with  them,  and  heard 
what  was  said,  soon  aiTer  told  me  that  he 
helped  to  bury  ihirtyone  of  them.  This  did 
me  some  good  to  find  my  countrymen  giving 
them  battle— for  I  never  heard  such  swagger- 
ing'as  ainorfg'  Gfen.  Clinton's  litll6  army,  who 
commanded  at  that  time,  and  I  am  apt  to  think 
there  were  four  thousand  men,  though  not  jtwo- 
thirds  of  them  fit  for  duty.  I  heard  numbiers 
of  them  say,  that  the  trees  in  America  should 
hang  well  with  fruit  that  campaign,  for  they 
would  give  no  quarter.  This  was  in  the 
mouths  of  most  whom  I  heard  spealc  on  the 
subject,  oflScer  as  well  as  soldier.-  1  wished 
at  that  time  my  countrymen  knew  as  well  as  I: 
did  >hat  a  murdering  and  '6tM  e^emy  thep 
had  ,to  deal  with  ;  but  expsH^ce^li  since 
taught  this  country,  what  they  fire  to  expect 
at  the  hands  of  Britons  when  in  Afeir  powerf 

The  prisoners  who  had  been  sent  on  board 
different  men  of  war  at  the  cove  of  Cork,  were 
6* 


NARRATIVE    OF 


collected  together,  and  the  whole  of  them  put 
on  board  the  Mercury  frigate,  Capt.  James 
Montague,  except  one  of  the  Canadians,  who 
died  on  the  passage  from  Ireland,  and  Peter 
Nobl^  who  made  his  escape  from  the  Sphynx 
man  of  war  In  this  harbor,  and  by  extraordi- 
t)ary  swimming,  got  safe  home  to  New  Eng- 
land, and  gave  intelligence  of  the  usage  of  his 
brother  prisoners.  The  Mercury  set  sail 
from  this  port  for  Halifax,  about  the  20th  of 
May,  and  Sir  Peter  Parker  was  about  to  sail 
with  the  land  forces,  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  ClintOBy  for  the:  reduction  of  Charles- 
ton, the  capital  of  South  Carolina,  and  when 
I  heard  of  his  defeat  in  Halifaj(,  it  gave  me 
inexpressible  satisfaction. 

I  now  found  myself  under  a  worse  Captain 
than  Symonds ;  for  Montague  was  loaded 
with  prejudices  against  every  body,  and  every 
thing  that  was  not  stamped  with  royalty  ;  and 
being  by  nature  underwitted,  his  wrath  was 
heavier  than  the  others,  or  at  least  his  mind 
was  ro  no  instance  liable  to  be  diverted  by 
foo^  sense,  huiior  or  bravery,  of  which  Sy- 
moiids  Wm  by  turns  susceptible*  A  Captain 
Francis  Procftor  Was  added  to  our  number  of 
|)risoners  tdien  we  were  first  put  on  board 
this  ship.  This  gentlebiao  bad  formerly  be- 
longed to  the  English  service.     The  Captain, 


ETHANALLEN. 


67 


them  put 
t.  James 
ans,  who 
ad  Peter 
B  Sphynx 
jxtraordi- 
\ew  Eng- 
ige  of  his 
set  sail 
e  20th  of 
»ut  to  sail 
itnand  of 
Charles- 
md  vfh^o 
gave  me 

e  Captain 
s  loaded 
md  every 
dty ;  and 
rath  was 
his  mind 
erted  by 
hich  8y- 
L  Captain 
umber  of 
HI  board 
nerly  be- 
Captain, 


and  in  fine  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  ship,  were 
very  much  incensed  against  him,  and  put  him 
in  irons  without  the  least  provocation,  and  he 
was  continued  in  this  miserable  situation  about 
three  months.  In  this  passage  the  priioners 
were  infected  with  the  scurvy,  some  moro 
and  some  less,  but  most  of  them  severely. 
The  ship's  crew  was  to  a  great  degree  trou- 
bled with-it,  and  I  concluded  that  it  was  catch-^ 
ing.  Several  of  the  crew  di^d  of  it  on  their 
passage.  I  was  weak  and  feeble  fn  c6nse- 
quence  of  so  long  and  cruel  a  captivity,  yet 
had  but  little  of  the  scurvy. 

The  purser  was  again  expressly  forbid  by 
the  Captain  to  let  me  have  any  tbing  out  of 
his  store— upon  which  I  went  on  deck,  and 
in  the  handsomest  manner  requested  tfie  favor 
of  purchasing  a  few  necessajries  of  the  purser] 
which  was  denied  me.  He  further  tolci  me, 
that  1  should  be  hanged  as  soon  as  I  arrived 
at  Halifax.  I  tried  to  reason  the  matter  with 
him,  bqt  found  him  proof  against  reason.  || 
also  held  up  his  honor  to  view,  and  hisr  be* 
havior  to  me  and  the  prisoners  in  g^neral^  as 
being  derogatory  to  it,  but  found  hid  honor 
impiBnetrable.  I  then  endeavored  to  touch 
his  humanity,  but  he  had  none ;  for  his  pre- 
possession of  bigotry  to  his  o^n  party,  bad 
confirmed  in  him  in  an  opinion  that  no  hutnaa- 


f' 


68 


NARRATIVE    OP 


ity  was  due  to  unroyalists,  but  seemed  to 
think  that  heaVen  and  earth  were  made  merely 
to  gratify  the  King  and  his  creatures.  He 
uttered  considerable  unintelligible  and  grovel- 
ling ideas,  a  little  tinctured  with  Monarchy, 
but  stood  well  to  his  text  of  hanging  me.  He 
afterwards  forbid  his  surgeon  to  administer  ?ny 
help  to  the  sick  prisoners.  I  was  every  night 
shut  down  in  the  cable  tire,  with  the  rest  of 
the  prisoners,  and  we  all  lived  miserable  while 
under  his  power.  But  I  received  some  gene- 
rosity from  several  of  the  midshipmen,  who 
in  a  degi'ee  alleviated  my  misery.  One  of 
their  names'  was  Putrass,  the  nameis  of  the 
others  I  do  not  recollect-^but  they  were  ob- 
liged to  be  private  in  the  bestovvment  of  their 
favor,  which  was,  sometimes  good  wine  bit- 
ters, and  at  otht^s  a  generous  drink  of  grog. 
Sometime  in  the  first  week  of  June,  we 
came  to  anchor  at  the  Hook  off  New  York, 
where  we  remained  but  three  days  ;  in  which 
time  Gov.  Tryon,  Mr.  Kemp,  the  old  At- 
torney General  of  New  York,  and  several 
other  perfidious  and  overgrown  tories  and 
land-jobbers  came  on  board.  Tryon  viewed 
me  with  a  stern  countenance  as  I  wad  walking 
on  the  leeward  side  of  the  defck  with  the  mid^ 
shipmen — and  he  and  his  companions  were 
walking  with  the  Captain  and  Lieutenant  on 


ETHAN   ALLGIf. 


6il 


the  windward  side  of  the  same,  but  never 
dpoke  to  nie,  though  it  is  altogetlier  probable 
that  he  thought  of  the  old  quarrel  betweei^ 
him,  the  old  government  of  Ndw  York,  and 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys.  Then  they  went 
with  the  Captain  into  the  cabin,  and  t^e  same 
afternoon  returned  on  board  a  vessel  which 
ky  near  the  Hook,  where  at  that  time  they 
took  sanctuary  from  the  resentment  of  their 
injured  country.  What  passed  between  iho 
officers  of  the  ship  and  these  visitors  I  know 
iloc ;  but  this  I  know,  that  my  treatment  from 
the  principal  officers  was  more  i^^vere  after- 
wards. » 

We  arrived  at  IJalifax  not  far  from  thef 
middle  of  June,  where  the  ship's  crew  which 
was  infested  with  the  scurvy,  were  taken  on 
shore,  and  shallow  trenches  dug,  into  which 
they  were  put,  and  partly  covered  with  earth* 
Indeed  every  proper  measure  was  taken  for 
their  relief.  The  prisoners  were  not  permit- 
ted any  sort  of  medicine,  bat  were  put  on 
board  a  sloop  which  lay  in  the  harbor,  near 
the  town  of  Halifax,  surrounded  with  several 
men  of  war  and  their  tenders,  and  a  guard 
constantly  set  over  them,  night  and  day.  The 
sloop  we  had  wholly  to  ourselves,  except  the 
guard  who  occupied  the  forecastle  ;  here  we 
were  cruelly  pinched  with  hunger.     It  teemed 


n 


^ARItAtlVE    OF 


to  me  that  we  had  not  more  than  one-third  of 
the  common  allowance.  We  were  all  seized 
with  violent  hunger  and  faintness— we  divided 
our  spahty  allowance  as  exact  as  possible.  I 
shared  the  same  fate  with  the  rest,  and  though 
thejr  offered  me  more  than  an  even  share,  I 
refused  to  accept  it,  as  it  was  a  time  of  sub- 
stantial distress,  which,  in  my  opinion,  1  ought 
to  partake  equally  with  the  rest,  and  set  an 
example  of  virtue  and  fortitude  to  our  little 
commonwealth. 

^  I  sent  letter  after  letter  to  Capt.  Montagub 
who  still  had  the  care  of  us,  and  also  to  his 
Lieutenant,  whose  name  I  cannot  call  to  mind, 
but  could  obtain  no  answer,  much  less  a  redress 
of  grievances ;  and  to  add  to  the  calamity, 
tiear  n  dozen  of  the  prisoners  were  dangerously 
ill  of  the  scurvy.  I  wrote  private  letters  to 
the  doctors,  to  procure,  if  possible,  some 
i^emedy  foi  the  sick,  but  in  vain.  The  chief 
physician  came  by  in  a  boat  so  close  that  the 
oars  touched  the  sloop  we  were  in,  and  I 
tittered  my  complaint  in  the  genteelest  manner 
to  him,  but  he  never  so  much  as  turned  his  head, 
or  made  me  any  answer,  though  I  continued 
speaking  till  he  got  out  of  hearing.  Our  cause 
then  become  very  deplorable.  Still  I  kept 
writing  to  the  Captam,  till  he  ordered  the 
guards,  as  they  told  me,  not  to  bring  anymore 


>  * 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


71 


i-third  of 
11  seized 
i  divided 
ibie.  I 
J  though 
share,  I 
of  sub- 
,  1  ought 
set  an 
ur  little 

[ontagub 

0  to  his 
to  mind, 

1  redress 
alamity, 
gerously 
)tters  to 
e,  some 
he  chief 
that  the 
,  and  I 

manner 
m head, 
>ntinued 
ur  cause 

I  kept 
red  the 
ny  more 


letters  from  me  to  him.  In  the  mean  time  an 
event  happened  worth  relating.  One  of  the 
men  almost  dead  of  the  scurvy,  laid  by  the 
side  of  the  sloop,  and  a  canoe  of  Indians  com- 
ing by,  he  purchased  two  quarts  of  strawber- 
ries, and  eat  them  at  once,  and  it  almost  cured 
him.  The  money  he  gave  for  them,  was  all 
the  money  he  had  in  ibe  world.  After  that 
we  tried  every  way  to  procure  more  of  that 
fruit,  reasoning  frotn  analogy  that  they  might- 
have  the  same  effect  on  others  infected  with 
the  same  disease,  but  could  obtain  none!.       j) 

Meanwhile  the  Doctor's  mate  of  the  Mer- 
cury came  privately  on  board  the  prison  sloop, 
and  presented  me  with  a  large  vial  of  smart 
drops,  whicb  proved  tb  be  g<lbd  for  the  scurvy ^ 
though  vegetables  and  some  other  ingredients 
were  requisite  for  a  cure  ;  but  the  drops  pure- 
at  least  a  check  to  the  disease.  This  was  a^ 
well-timed  exertion  of  humanity— ^iHit  the 
doctor's  name  has  slipped  my  mind*— and  in 
my  opinion  was  the  means  6f  saving  the  lives 
of  several  men. 

The  guard  which  was  set  over  us,  was  by 
this  time  touched  with  the  feelings  of  compas- 


sion ;  and  1  finally  trusted  one  of  tbiem  with 
a  lattiripf  complaint  to  Governor  Arbtitbnot^ 


nicite 


which  he  found  means  to  commtt^^ 
frhich  had  the  desired  efT^iot— fop 


m 


% 


7^ 


NAI^HATIYE   OF 


i 


the  Governor  sent  an  ofBcer  and  surgeon  on 
hbard  the  prison  sloop,  to  know  the  truth  oC 
the  jcompldint.  The  officer's  nmk^  was 
Russel)  vi^bo  held  the  rank  o('Lieutenant,  and 
treated, me  in  a  friendly  and  polite  rnanner, 
jIIkI  W9S  really  aigry  at  the  cruel  ^nd  unmanly 
usage  the  prisoners  met  yr'nh;  and  with  the 
surgeon  made  a  report  of  matters  to  Opvernqr 
Arbuthnot,  who  either  by  his  order  or  influ*? 
ence,  took  us  next  day  from  the  prison  sloop 
to  Halifax  gaol,  where  I  first  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  now  Hon.  Jamei^  Lovelg; 
Esq.,  one  of  the  members  of  Congress  for  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  Bay  t  The  sick  were 
tf^eo  to  tllj9  bt^piitplrand  the  Ganadiaq^  who 
i^ere  effe^iivei  were  employed  in  the  King's 
works;  and  when  tjneir  countrymen  were  re- 
cover^, fisom  the  scurvy,  and  joined  them» 
th^  ilL  dilirted  the  King's  employ,  and  were 
not  het«d  oCat  Halifax,  as  long  as  the  remain* 
der  of  tb|»  pi^isoners  conjunped  there,  which; 
was  till  near  the  vmiddW  pjf  October.  We 
were  on  board  the  prison  sloop  abou(  ai^ 
weekly  andi  were  landed  at  Halifiix  near  the 
middle^f  August.  Several  of  our ^RngUslli 
Ameri^ui  prisoners,  who  were  cnrad  ojTtti^ 
scurv)!!  at  tne  hospital,  made  their  e< 
thaocoi  and  after  a  long  time  reat 
old  habitations. 


Mr-i 


%>'* 


#. 


;@Qli  on 
^mh  of 

0  was 
int,  and 
nanner, 
nmanly 
rith  the 
overnqr 
T  inflM-T 
n  sloofi 
nje  ac- 

for  the 
:k  w^re 
ms  who 

King's 
vete  re- 

1  them^ 
nd  wer^ 
remain- 
,  wbiobi 
•.  We 
ou(  si^ 
lear  the 
Rflilisll! 


ETHAN    ALLGX. 


It 


I  had  now  but  thirteen  with  me  of  tho&e[ 
that  were  taken  in  Canada,  and  remained  ui 
gaol  with  me  in  Halifax,  who  in  addition  toi 
to  those  that  were'  imprisoned  before,  ii)ade 
our  number  about  thirtyfour,  who  were  all 
locked  up  in  one  common  large  room,  without 
regard  to  rank,  education,  or  any  other  accom- 
plishment, where  we  continued  from  the  set- 
ting to  the  rising  sun ;  and  as  sundry  of  them 
were  infected  with  the  gaol  and  other  distem«« 
pers,  the  furniture  of  this  spacious  room  con- 
sisted most  principally  of  excrement  tubs..' 
We  petitioned  for  a  removal  of  the  sick  into 
the  hospitals,  but  were  denied.  We  remon- 
strated against  the  ungenerous  usage  of  being 
confined  with  the  privates,  as  being  contrarj^ 
to  the  laws  and  customs  of  nations,  and  pott 
ticulariy  ungrateful  in  them,  in  consequencie 
of  the  gentleman -like  usage  which  tlie  British 
imprisoned  officers  met  with  in  America ; 
and  thus  we  wearied  ourselveS|.  petitioning 
and  remonstrating,  but  to  no  purpose  at  all-^^ 
for  Gen.  Massey,  who  commanded  at  Halifax* 
was  as  inflexible  as  the  devil  himself — ^a  fine 
preparative  this  for  Mr.  Lovell,  member  of 
the  continental  Congress. 

Lieutenant  Russel,  whom  I  have  mentioned 

before,  came    to  visit  me  in    prisoo,    and 

aifured  me  that  he  had  done  hit  utmost  ip 

1 


^^ 


74 


NARRATIVE    OF 


procure  my  parple  for  enlargement — at  which 
a  British  Captain,  who  was  then  the  town- 
major,  expressed  compassion  for  the  gentle- 
men confined  in  the  fihhy^  place,  and  assured 
me  that  he  had  used  his  influence  to  procure 
their  enlargement;  his  name  was  near  like  Ram- 
sey. Among  the  prisoners  there  were  five  in 
number,  who  had  a  legal  claim  to  a  parole,  viz. 
James  Lovel,  Esq. ;  Capt.  Francis  Proctor, 
a  Mr.  Houland,  master  of  a  continental  armed 
vessel,  a  Mr.  Taylor,  his  mate,  and  my- 
self. 

As  to  the  article  of  provisions,  we  were  well 
served,  much  better  than  in  any  part  of  my 
captivity ;  and  since  it  was  Mr.  Level's  mis- 
fortune and  mine  to  be  prisonersj  and  in  so 
wretcbMl  circumstances,  1  was  happy  that  we 
were  together,  as  a  mutual  support  to  each 
other,  and  to  the  unfortunate  prisoners  with 
us.  -   '        . 

I  had  nod^en  in  this  gaol  many  days  before 
a  wo?lby  and  charitable  woman,  Mrs.  Blacden 
by  name,  supplied  me  with  a  good  dinner  of 
fresh  meats  every  day,  with  garden  fruit,  and 
lometimes  with  a  bottle  of  wine ;  notwklif 
standing  which  I  had  not  been  more  ihatl' 
three  weeks  in  this  place  before  I  lost  all  ap- 
petite to  the  most  delicious  food  by  the  ffaol 
distemper,  as  sundry  of  the  prisoners,  pardcu- 


ETHAN   ALLEN. 


76 


|t  which 
town- 
gentle- 
assured 
Iprocure 
:e  Ram- 
five  in 
\e,  viz. 
roctor, 
tl  armed 
|nd  my- 

ere  well 
t  of  my 
}I's  mis- 
id  in  90 
that  we 
to  each 
)r8  with 

s  before 
Blacden 
oner  of 
Liit,  and 
lOtwiUif 
e  tkati^ 
aJL  ap- 
le  ^ol 
mrticu- 


Ifirly  pL  Serjeant  Moore,  a  man  of  courage  and 
fidelity.  .  I  have  several  times  seen  him  hold 
the  boatswain  of  the  Solebay  frigate,  when  he 
attempted  to  strike  him,  and  laughed  him  out 
of  conceit  of  using  him  as  a  slave.  ,-imin^^^ 
I  A  doctor  visited  the  sick,  and  did  the  best, 
as  I  suppose,  he  could  for  them,  to  no  ap- 
parent purpose.  I  grew  weaker  and  weaker, 
as  did  the  rest.  Several  of  them  could  not 
help  themselves.  At  last  I  reasoned  in  my 
own  mind,  that  raw  onion  would  be  good.  1 
made  use  of  it,  and  found  immediate  relief  by 
it,  as  did  the  sick  in  general,  particularly  ser- 
geant Moore,  who  it  recovered  almost  from 
.the  shades.  Though  I  had  met  with  a  little 
revival,  still  I  found  the  malignant  hand  of 
Britain  had  greatly  reduced  my  constitution 
with  stroke  upon  stroke.  Esquire  Lovel  and 
myself  used  ^very  argument  and  entreaty  that 
could  be  well  conceived  of  in  order  to  obtain 
gentleman-like  usage,  to  no  purpose.  I  then 
wrote  Generd  Massey  as  severe  a  letter  as  I 
possibly  could,  with  my  friend  Lovel's  assist- 
The  contents  of  it  was  to  give  the 


ance. 


British,  as  a  nation,  and  him  as  an  individual, 
their  true  character.  This  roused  the  rascal, 
for  he  could  not  bear  to  see  his  and  the  Ba- 
tion's  deformity  in  that  transparent  letter, 
which  I  sent  him ;  he  therefore  put  hinoself 


i<.- 


ym.. 


76 


NARRATIVE  OF 


IP  a  great  rage  about  it,  and  shewed  the  letter 
to  a  number  of  British  officers,  particularly 
lb  Capt.  Smith  of  the  Lark  frigate,  who  in- 
stead of  joining  with  him  in  disapprobation, 
commended  the  spirit  of  it ;  upon  which  Gen. 
Massey  said  to  him,  Do  you  take  the  part  of 
a  rebel  against  me  ?  Capt.  Smith  answered, 
that  he  rather  spoke  his  sentiments,  and  there 
was  a  dissension  in  an  opinion  between  them. 
Sonae  officer^  took  the  part  of '  the  General, 
and  others  of  the  Captain.  This  I  was  in- 
formed of  by  a  gentleman  who  had  it  from 
Capt.  Smith.  ..*^*, 

In  a  few  days  after  this  the  prisoners  were 
ordered  to  go  on  board  of  a  man  of  war,  which 
was  bound  for  New  York ;  but  two  of  them 
'  were  not  able  to  go  on  board,  and  were  left 
at  Halifax  ;  one  died,  and  the  other  recovered. 
This  was  about  (he  12th  of  October,  and 
'soon  after  I  had  got  on  board,  the  Captain  sent 
',for  me  in  particular  to  come  on  the  quarter 
deck.  I  went,  not  knowing  that  it  was  Capt. 
Smith,  or  his  ship  at  that  time,  and  expected 
to  meet  the  same  rigorous  usage  I  had  com- 
monly met  with,  and  prepared  my  mind  ac- 
cordingly ;  but  when  I  came  on  deck,  the 
Captain  met  me  with  his  hand,  welcomed  me 
to  his  ship,  invited  me  to  dine  with  him  that 
day,  and  assured  me  that  I  should  be  treated 


A' 


KTHAN  ALLEN. 


77 


as  a  gentleman,  and  that  he  had  given  orders 
that  1  should  be  treated  with  respect  by  the 
ship's  crew.  This  was  so  unexpected  and 
sudden  a  transition  that  it  drew  tears  from  my 
eyes — which  all  the  ill  usage  I  had  before  met 
with  was  not  able  to  produce — ^nor  could  I  at 
first  hardly  speak,  but  soon  recovered  myself, 
and  expressed  my  gratitude  for  so  unexpected 
a  favor,  and  let  him  know  that  I  felt  anxiety 
of  mind  in  reflecting  that  Lis  situation  and 
mine  was  such  that  it  was  not  probable  that  it 
would  ever  be  in  my  power  to  return  the 
favor.  Capt.  Smith  replied,  that  he  had  no 
reward  in  view,  but  only  treated  me  as  a  gen- 
tl^an  ought  to  be  treated  ;  he  said  ^  this  is  n 
nAable  world,  and  one  gentleman  never  knows 
but  that  it  may  be  in  his  power  to  help  ano- 
ther. Soon  after  I  found  this  to  be  the  same 
Capt.  Smith  who  took  my  part  against  Gen. 
Massey  ;  but  he  never  mentioned  any  thing 
of  it  to  n  ,  and  I  thought  it  impolitic  in  mt 
to  interrogate  him  as  to  any  disputes  which 
mfght  have  arisen  between  hind  and  the  Gen- 
eral on  my  account,  as  I  was  a  prisoner,  and 
that  it  was  his  option  to  make  free  wiji  me 
on  that  subject,  if  he  pleased ;  and  if  he  did 
not,  I  might  take  it  for  granted  that  it  would 
be  unpleasing  for  me  to  query  about  it,  though 
I  bad  a  strong  propensity  to  converse 
him  on  that  subject. 
7* 


78 


NARRATIVE  OF 


I  dined  with  the  Captain  agreeable  to  his 
invitation,  and  oftentimes  with  the  Lieuten- 
ants, in  the  gun  room,  but  in  general  eat  stnd 
drank  with  my  friend  Lovel,  and  the  other 
gentlemen,  who  were  prisoners  with  me  where 
I  also  slept « 

We  had  a  litde  birth  enclosed  with  canvas, 
between  decks,  where  we  enjoyed  ourselves 
very  well,  in  hopes  of  an  exchange  ;  besides 
6ur  friends  at  Halifax  had  a  little  notice  of 
our  departure,  and  supplied  us  with  spirituous 
liquor,  and  many  articles  of  provision  for  the 
coast.  Captain  Burk  having  been  taken  pris- 
oner, was  added  to  our  company  (he  had  com- 
manded an  American  armed  vessel)  and  ms 
generously  treated  by  the  Captain  and  all  me 
officers  of  the  ship,  as  well  as  myself. 

We  now  had  in  all  near  thirty  prisoners  on 
board,  and  as  we  were  sailing  along  the  coast, 
if  I  recollect  right,  off  Rhode  Island,  Captain 
Burk,  with  an  under  officer  of  the  ship,  whose 
name  I  do  not  recollect,  came  to  our  little 
birth,  proposed  to  kill  Capt.  Smith  and  !f^e 
principal  officers  of  the  frigate  and  take  it ; 
8d$hg  that  there  was  35,0002  sterling  in  the 
fame.  Capt.  Burk  likewise  averred  that  a 
strong  party  out  of  the  ship's  crew  was  in  the 
cotispiracy,  and  urged  me  and  the  gentlemen 
that  was  with  me  to  use  our  influence  with 


ETHAN    ALLEN. 


7f 


)  to  his 
ieuten- 
eat  dnd 
e  other 
e  where 

canvas, 
rselves 
besides 
3tice  of 
irituous 
for  the 
en  pris- 
Eld  com- 
ind  wai 
1  all  m 


iS 


»ners  on 
e  coast, 
Captain 
,  whose 
ir  little 
ind  the 
ike  it ; 
in  the 
that  a 
)  in  the 
itlemen 
e  with 


the  private  prisoners,  to  execute  the  design j 
and  take  the  ship,  with  the  cash,  into  one  of 
our  own  ports. 

Upon  which  I  replied,  that  we  had  been 
too  well  used  on  board  to  murder  the  officers ; 
that  I  could  by  no  means  reconcile  it  to  my 
conscience,  and  that  in  fact  it  should  not  be 
done ;  and  while  I  was  yci  speaking,  my 
friend  Lovel  confirmed  what  I  had  said,  and 
further  pointed  out  the  ungratefulness  of  such 
an  act ;  that  it  did  not  fall  short  of  murder, 
and  in  fine  all  the  gentlemen  in  the  birth,  op* 
posed  Capt.  Burk  and  his  colleague.  But 
they  strenuously  urged  that  the  conspiracy 
i^uld  be  found  out,  and  that  it  would  cost 
tflm  their  lives,  provided  they  did  not  execute 
their  design.  I  then  interposed  spiritedly, 
and  put  an  end  to  further  arguments  on  the 
subject,  and  told  them  that  they  might  depend 
upon  it,  upon  my  honor,  that  I  would  faith- 
fully guard  Capt.  Smith's  life.  If  they  should 
attempt  the  assault,  I  would  assist  him,  for 
they  desired  me  to  remain  neuter,  and  that  the 
same  honor  that  guarded  Capt.  Smith's  life, 
would  also  guard  theirs  ;  and  it  was  agreed 
by  those  present  not  to  reveal  the  conspiracy, 
to  the  intent  that  no  man  should  be  put  to 
death  in  consequence  of  what  had  been  pro* 
j«cted  ;  and  Capt.  Burk  and  his  colleague 


80 


NAEm^TIVE    OF 


went  to  stifle  the  matter  among  their  asso- 
ciates. I  could  not  help  calling  to  mind  what 
Capt.  Smith  said  to  me,  when  I  first  came  on 
board :  "  This  is  a  mutable  worlds  and  one 
gentleman  never  knows  but  that  it  may  be  in 
his  power  to  help  another, ^^  Capt.  Smith  and 
his  officers  still  behave<l  with  their  usual  cour- 
tesy, and  I  never  heard  any  more  of  the  con- 
spiracy. 

We  arrived  before  New  York,  and  cast  an- 
chor the  latter  part  of  October,  where  we  re* 
mained  several  days,  and  where  Capt.  Smith 
informed  me,,  that  he  had  reconmiended  me 
to  Admiral  Howe  and  Greneral  Sir  William 
Howe,  as  a  gentleman  of  honor  and  veraoj^, 
and  deshr^d  that  I  might  be  treated  as  sfll. 
Capt.  Burk  was  then  ordered  on  board  a 
prbon-ship  in  thei  harbor,  I  took  ray  leave 
of  Oajpt.  Smith,  and  with  the  other  prisoners 
was  sent  on  board  a  transport-ship,  which  lay 
in  the  harbor,  commanded  by  Capt.  Oraige, 
who  took  me  into  the  cabin  with  him  and  bis 
Lieutenant.  I  fared  as  they  did^  and  was  in 
every  respect  well  treated  in  consequence  of 
directions  from  Capt.  Smith.  In  a  few  weeks 
after  this  I  had  the  happiness  to  part  with  my 
friend  Lovel,  (for  his  sake,  who  the  enemy 
affected  to  treat  as  a  private  ;  he  was  a  gen- 
tleman of  merit,  and  liberally  educatedi  but 


ETHAN    ALLEN. 


81 


iir  asso- 
nd  what 
came  on 
md  one 
ay  be  in 
nith  and 
al  cour- 


S 


e  con- 


cast  an- 
B  we  re* 
t.  Smith 
ded  me 
William 


irerac 
as 

board  a 
ay  leave 
irisoners 
hich  lay 
Oraige^ 
and  bis 
1  was  in 
lence  of 
w  weeks 
tvith  my 
enemy 
s  a  gen- 
ted|  but 


had  no  commission;  they  maligned  him  on 
account  of  his  unshaken  attachment  to  the 
cause  of  his  country.)  He  was  exchanged 
for  Governor  Phillip  Skene  of  the  British. 
I  was  continued  in  this  ship  till  the  latter  part 
of  November,  where  I  contracted  an  acquaint- 
ance with  a  Captain  of  the  British— -his 
name  has  slipped  my  memory.  He  was  what 
we  may  call  a  genteel  hearty  fellow.  I  re- 
member an  expression  of  his  over  a  bottle  of 
wine,  to  this  import :  *^  That  there  is  great- 
ness of  soul  for  personal  friendship  to  subsist 
between  you  and  me,  as  we  are  upon  opposite 
sides,  and  may  at  another  day  be  obliged  to 
face  each  other  in  the  field."  I  am  confident 
thaPhe  was  as  faithful  as  any  officer  in  the 
British  larmy.  At  another  sitting  he  offered 
to  bet  a  dozen  of  wine  that  Fort  Washington 
would  be  in  the  hands  of  the  British  in  three 
days.  I  stood  the  bet,  and  would  had  I 
known  that  that  would  have  been  the  case, 
and  the  third  day  afterwards  we  heard  a  pro- 
digious heavy  cannonade,  and  that  day  the 
Fort  was  taken  sure  enough.  Some  months 
after,  when  I  was  on  parole,  he  called  upon 
me  with  his  usual  humor,  and  mentioned  the 
bet.  I  acknowledged .  I  had  lost  it,  but  he 
said  he  did  not  mean  to  take  it  then,  as  I  was 
a  prisoner  ;  that  he  would  another  day  call  on 


82 


NARRATIVS    OF 


me,  when  their  armjr  came  to  Benniogton. 
I  replied  that  he  was  quite  too  generous,  as  I 
had  fairly  lost  u  ;  besides  the  Green  Mountain 
Boys  would  not  suffer  them  to  come  to  Ben- 
nington. This  was  all  in  good  humor.  I 
should  have  been  glad  to  have  seen  him  after 
the  defeat  at  Bennington,  but  did  not.  It  was 
customary  for  a  guard  to  attend  the  prisoners, 
which  was  often  changed.  One  was  com- 
posed of  tories  from  Connecticut,  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Fairfield  and  Green  Farms.  The 
Serjeant's  name  was  Hoit.  They  were  very 
full  of  their  invectives  against  the  country, 
swaggered  of  their  loyalty  to  their  king,  and 
exclaimed  bitterly  agamst  the  "  cowardly  Yan- 
kees," as  they  were  pleased  to  term  mm, 
bat  finally  contented  themselves  with  saying, 
that  when  the  country  was  overcome,  they 
should  be  well  rewarded  for  their  loyalty,  out 
of  the  eatates  of  the  whigs,  which  would  be 
confiscated.  This  I  found  to  be  the  general 
language  of  tories,  after  I  arrived  from  Eng- 
land on  the  American  coast.  I  heard  sundry 
of  them  relate,  that  the  British  Generals  had 
engaged  them  an  ample  reward  for  all  their 
losses,  disappointments  and  expenditures,  out 
of  the  forfeited  rebels  estates.  This  language 
early  taught  me  what  to  do  with  tories  estates, 
as  far  as  my  influence  can  go.     For  it  is  really 


ET^IiLK  ALLEN. 


83 


nington. 

us,  as  I 

fountain 

to  Ben- 

mor.    I 

lim  after 

It  was 

isoners, 

as  com- 

n  the  vi- 

s.     The 

ere  very 

country, 

:ing,  and 

•dly  yan- 

m  lifeni, 

I  saying, 

ne,  they 

iilty,  out 

rould  be 

general 

>m  £ng- 

i  sundry 

srals  had 

all  their 

ires,  out 

language 

estates, 

is  really 


a  game  of  hazard  between  whig  and  tory. 
The  whigs  must  inevitably  have  lost  all,  in 
consequence  of  the  abilities  of  the  tories,  and 
their  good  friends  the  British ;  and  it  is  no 
more  than  right  the  tories  should  run  the  same 
risk,  in  consequence  of  the  abilities  of  the 
whigs.  But  of  this  more  will  be  observed 
in  the  sequel  of  this  narrative. 

Some  of  the  last  days  of  November,  the 
prisoners  were  landed  at  New  York,  and  I 
was  admitted  to  parole  with  the  other  officers, 
viz.  Proctor,  Rowland,  and   Taylor.    The 

Krivates  were  put  into  the  filthy  churches  in 
few  York,  with  the  distressed  prisoners  that 
were  taken  at  Fort  Washington  ;  and  the 
second  night  serjeant  Roger  Moore,  who  was 
bold  and  enterprising,  (bund  means  to  make 
his  escape  with  every  one  of  the  remaining 
prisoners  that  were  taken  with  mei  except 
three  who  were  soon  after  exchanged.  So 
that  out  of  thirtyone  prisoners,  who  went 
with  me  the  round  exhibited  in  these 
sheets,  two  only  died  with  the  enemy,  and 
three  only  exchanged  ;  one  of  them  died  after 
he  came  within  our  lines  ;  all  the  rest  at  dif- 
ferent times,  made  their  escape  from  the 
enemy. 

I  now  found  myself  on  parole,  and  restricteci 
to  the  limits  of  the  city  u  New  York,  where 


-^C:/-  ..>,y. 


£4 


NARRATIVE    OF 


I  soon  projected  means  to  live  in  some  mea- 
sure  agreeable  to  my  rank,  though  I  was  des- 
titute of  cash.  My  constitution  was  almost 
worn  out  by  such  a  long  and  barbarous  cap- 
tivity. The  enemy  gave  out  that  1  was  crazy, 
and  wholly  unmanned,  but  my  vitals  held 
sound,  (nor  was  I  delirious  any  more  than  I 
have  been  from  my  youth  up ;  but  my  ex- 
treme circumstances  at  certain  times,  rendered 
it  political  to  act  in  some  measure  the  mad- 
man,) and  in  consequence  of  a  regular  diet  and 
exercise  my  blood  recruited,  and  my  nerves 
in  great  measure  recovered  their  former  tone, 
strength' and  usefulness,  in  the  course  of  six 
months. 

I  next  invite  the  reader  to  a  retrospective 
sieht  and  consideration  of  the  doleful  scene 
01  inhumanity  exercised  by  General  Sir  Wil- 
liam Howe,  and  the  army  under  his  command, 
towards  the  prisoners  taken  on  Long  Island, 
on  the  27th  day  of  August,  1 776  ;  sundry  of 
whom  were  in  an  inhuman  and  barbarous  man- 
ner murdered  after  they  had  surrendered  their 
arms  ;  particularly  a  General  Odel,  (or  Wood- 
hul)  of  the  militia,  who  was  hacked  to  pieces 
with  cutlasses,  when  ali/e,  by  the  light-horse- 
men, and  a  Captain  Fellows,  of  the  continent- 
al army,  who  was  thrust  through  with  a  bay- 
onet, of  which  wound  he  died  instantly. 


'   V 


ETHAN   ALLEX. 


85 


Sundry  others  were  hanged  up  by  the.  neck 
till  they  were  dead  ;  five  on  the  limb  of  au  oak 
tree,  and  without  any  reason  assigned,  except 
that  they  were  fighting  in  defence  of  the  only 
blessing  worth  preserving.  ■  And  indeed  those 
who  had  tbe  misfortune  to  fall  into  their  hands 
at  Fort  Washington,  in  the  m(>nth  of  Novem-t 
ber  following,  met  with  but  very  little  better 
usage,  except  that  they  were  r^erved   from 
immediate  death  to  famish  and  die  with  hun- 
ger ;  in  fine  the  word  rebel   applied   to  any 
vanquished    persons,  without  regard    to  rank, 
who  were  in  tb<*  continental   service  on  ♦bo 
27th  of  August  aforesaid,  was  thought  by  tUj 
enemy  ikufllicieot  to  sanctify  whatever  cruolt^il^ 
they  were   pleased  to  inflict,  death  itself  n(^; 
excepted  ;  but  I  pass  over  particulars  ./hicfr  ' 
would  s'^ell  my  ntrrative  far  beyond  my  de- 
sign. 

The  private  soldiers  who  were  broi^ht  to 
New  York  were  crowded  into  churches,  and 
environed  with  slavish  Hessian  guards,  a  peo- 
ple of  a  strange  language,  who  were  sent  to 
America  for  no  other  design  byt  cruelty  and 
desolation  ;  and  at  others,  by  merciless  Brit- 
ons, whose  mode  of  communicating  ideas 
being  intelligible  in  this  country,  served  only 
to  tantalize  and  insult  the  helpless  and  perish* 
ing  ;  but  above  all  the  hetlisn  delight  and  tri**^ 
8 


86 


NARRATIVE    OP 


umph  of  the  tories  over  them,  as  they  were 
dying  by  hundreds.  This  was  too  much  for 
me  to  bear  as  a  spectator  ;  for  1  saw  the  to- 
ries exulting  over  the  dead  bodies  of  their 
murdered  countrymen.  I  have  gone  into  the 
churches,  and  seen  sundry  of  the  prisoners  in 
^he  agonies  of  death,  in  consequence  of  very 
hunger,  and  others  speechless  and  near  death, 
biting  piece!  of  chips  ;  others  pleading  for 
God's  sake,  for  something  to  eat,  and.  at  the 
same  time  shivering  with  the  cold.  Hollow 
groans  saluted  my  ears,  and  despair  seemed 
to  be  imprinted  on  every  one  of  their 
countenances.  Ti^e  filth  in  these  churches, 
in  cbnsequence  of  the  fluxes,  was  almost  be- 
yond description.  The  floors  were  covered 
with  excrements.  I  have  carefully  sought  to 
direct  my  steps  so  as  to  avoid  it,  but  could 
not.  They  would  beg  for  God's  sake  for  one 
copper,  or  morsel  of  bread.  I  have  seen  in 
one  of  these  churches  sever  '  ad  at  the  spme 
time,  lying  among  the  e>  i.  v^ments  of  their 
bodies. 

It  was  a  common  practice  with  the  enemy 
to  convey  the  dead  from  their  filthy  places 
in  carts,  to  be  slightly  buried,  and  I  have 
seen  whole  gangs  of  tories  making  derision, 
and  exalting  ov§r  the  dead,  saying,  there  goes 
another  load  of  damned  rebels.     I  have  ob- 


ETHAN   ALLfiN. 


87 


Y  were 
jch  for 
the  to- 
f  their 
Mo  the 
ners  in 
»f  very 
death, 
ng  for 
at  the 
follow 
teemed 
their 
[irches, 
ost  be- 
lovered 
ught  to 
t  could 
for  one 
seen  in 
e  ssme 
f  their 

enemy 
places 
I  have 
;rision, 
re  goes 
ve  ob"^ 


served  the  British  soldiers  to  be  i\j\\  of  their 
black-guard  jokes,  and  vaunting  on  those  ocr 
casions,  but  they  appeared  to  me  less  malig- 
nant than  tories.  ,  ,  ,  .  ; 
The  provision  dealt  out  to  the  prisoners 
was  by  no  means  sufficient  for  the  support  of 
life.  It  was  deficient  in  quantity,  and  much 
more  so  in  quality.  The  prisoners  often  pre- 
sented me  with  a  sample  of  theifybread,  which 
I  certify  was  damaged  to  that  degree  that  it  v^s 
loathsome  and  unfit  to  be  eaten,  and  I  am  bold 
to  aver  it,  as  my  opinion,  that  it  had  been 
condemned,  and  was  of  the  very  worst  sort. 
I  have  seen  and  been  fed  upon  damaged  bread, 
in  the  course  of  my  captivity,  and  observed 
the  quality  of  such  bread  as  has  been  con- 
demned by  the  enemy,  among  which  was  very 
little  so  effectually  spoiled  as  what  was  dealt 
out  to  these  prisoners.  Their  allowance  of 
meat,  as  they  told  me,  was  quite  trifling,  and 
of  the  basest  sort.  I  never  s^w  any  of  it^  but 
was  informed,  bad  as  it  was,  it  was  swallowed 
almost  as  quick  as  they  got  bold  of  it.  I  saw 
some  of  them  sucking  bones  after  they  were 
speechless  ;  others  who  could  yet  fpeak,  and 
had  the  use  of  their  reason,  urged  me  in  the 
strongest  and  most  pathetic  manner,  to  use 
my  interest  in  their  behalf,  for  you  plainly  see, 
say  they,  that   we  are  devoted   to  death  and 


\"*t 


ts^ 


NARRATIVE  OF 


destruction  ;  and  after  I  had  examined  more 
particularly  into  their  truly  deplorable  condi- 
tion, and  had  become  more  fully  apprized  of 
the  essential  facts,  I  was  persuaded  that  it  was 
a  premeditated  and  systematical  piBu  of  the 
British  council,  to  destroy  the  youths  of  our 
knd,  with  a  view  thereby  to  deter  the  coun- 
try, and  make  it  submit  to  their  despotism  ; 
but  that  I  could  not  do  them  any  material  ser- 
vice, and  that  by  any  public  attempt  for  that 
purpose  I  might  endanger  myself  by  frequent- 
ing places  the  most  nauseous  and  contagious 
that  could  be  conceived  of.  I  refrained  going 
into  the  churches,  but  frequently  convf  rsed 
with  s'jch  of  the  prisoners  as  were  adraitted 
to  come  out  into  the  yard,  and  found  that  the 
systematic  usart;  st*ll  continued.  The  guard 
would  often  di  v  e  me  away  with  their  fixed 
bayonets.  A  ^Tessian  one  uay  followed  nae, 
five  or  six  rods,  but  by  making  use  of  my 
legs,  got  rid  of  the  lubber.  Sometines  1 
could  obtain  a  little  conversation,  notwith- 
standing their  severities. 

T  was  in  one  of  the  church  yards,  and  it 
was  rumored  among  those  in  the  church,  and 
sundry  of  the  prisoners  came  with  tijeir  usual 
complaints  to  me,  and  among  the  rest  a  large- 
boned,  tall  young  man,  as  he  told  me  from 
Pennsylvania,  who  was  reduced   to  a  mere 


.»♦ 


'^i*- 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


89 


\  more 
condi- 
ized  of 
t  it  was 
of  the 
of  our 
coun- 
otism  ; 
ial  ser- 
3r  that 
?quent- 
tagious 
i  going 
ivfTsed 
knitted 
hat  the 
3  guard 
ir  fixed 
ed  me, 
of  my 
ines  1 
otwith- 

and  it 
;h,  and 
r  usual 
i  large- 
e  from 
i  mere 


skeleton  ;  said  he  was  glad  to  see  me  before 
he  died,  which  he  had  expected  to  have  done 
last  night,  but  was  a  little  revived  f  he  further- 
more informed  ni<|,  that  he  and  his  brother 
had  been  urged  to  enlist  into  the  British,  but 
had  -both  resolved  to  die  first ;  that  his  brother 
had  died  Idst  night,  in  consequence  of  that 
resolution,  and  that  be  expected  shortly  to 
follow  'him  :  but  I  made  the  other  prisoners 
stand  a  litde  off,  and  told  him  with  a  low  voice 
to  list ;  he  then  asked,  whether  it  was  right 
in  the  sight  of  Ctod  ?  I  assured  him  that  it 
was,  and  that  duty  to  hin)«elf  obliged  him  to 
deceive  the  British  by  enlisting,  and  deserting 
the  first  opportunity.  Upon  which  he  an- 
swered with  transport  that  he  would  list.  I 
charged  him  not  to  mention  my  name  as  his 
adviser,  lest  it  should  get  air,  and  I  should  be 
closely  confined  in  consequence  of  it.  The 
integrity  of  these  sufi^ering  prisoners  is  hardly 
credible.  Many  hundreds,  I  am  confident, 
submitted  to  death,  rather  than  enlist  in  the 
British  service,  which,  I  am  informed,  |hey 
most  generally  were  pressed  to  do.  I  was 
astonished  at  the  resolution  of  the  two  broth- 
ers particularly  ;  it  seems  that  they  could  not 
be  stimulated  to  such  exertions  of  heroism 
from  ambition,  as  they  were  but  obscure  sol- 
diers ;    trong  ind'^'i'd      :st  the  internal  princi- 


-  / 


90 


NARRATIVE    OP' 


pie  of  virtue  be,  which  supported  them  to 
brave  death,  and  one  of  them  went  through 
the  operation,  as  did  many  hundred  others. 
1  readily  grant  that  instance  of  public  virtue 
are  no  excitement  to  the  sordid  and  vicious, 
nor  on  the  other  hand,  will  all  the  barbarity  oif 
Britain  and  Heshland  awaken  them  to  a  sense 
of  their  duty  to  their  public  ;  but  these  things 
will  have  their  proper  effect  on  the  generous 
and  brave.  The  officers  on  parole  were  most 
of  them  zealous,  if~  possible,  to  afford  the 
miserable  soldiery  relief,  and*  often  consulted 
with  one  another  on  the  subject,  but  to  no 
effect,  being  destitute  of  the  means  of  subsist- 
ence, which  they  needed  ;  nor  could  the 
officers  project  any  measure  which  they  thought 
would  alter  their  fate,  or  so  much  as  be  a 
means  of  getting  them  out  of  those  filthy  places 
to  the  privilege  of  fresh  air.  Some  projected 
that  all  the  officers  should  go  in  procession 
to  Gbneral  Howe,  and  plead  the  cause  of  the 
perishing  soldiers  ;  but  this  proposal  was 
negatived  for  the  following  reasons,  viz.  be- 
cause that  General  Howe  must  needs  be  well 
acquainted  and  have  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
the  state  and  condition  of  the  prisoners  in 
every  of  their  wretched  apartments,  and  that 
much  more  particular  and  exact  than  any 
officer  on  parole  could  be  supposed  to  have, 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


91 


lem  to 
hrough 
others. 

virtue 
'icious, 
arity  of 
I  sense 
i  things 
pnerous 
re  most 
trd  the 
nsulted 

to  no 
subsist- 
jld  the 
thought 
IS  be  a 
y  places 
ojecled 
cession 

of  the 
;al  was 
viz.  be- 
be  well 
edge  of 
ners  in 
ind  that 
lan  any 
0  have, 


as  the  General  bad  a  return  of  the  circumstances 
of  the  prisoners  by  his  own  officers  every 
'  morning,  of  the  number  which  were  alive,  as 
also  the  number  which  died  every  twentyfour 
hours,  apd  consequently  the  bill  of  mortality, 
as  collected  from  the  daily  returns,  lay  before 
him  with  all  the  material  situations  and  cir- 
cumstances of  the  prisoners  ;  and  provided 
the  ofiicers  should  go  in  procession  to  General 
Howe,  according  to  the  projection,  it  would 
give  him  the  greatest  afiront,  and  that  he 
would  either  retort  upon  them,  that  it  was  no 
part  of  their  parole  to  instruct  him  in  hi^  con- 
duct to  prisoners  ;  that  they  were  mutinying 
against  his  authority,  and  by  affronting  him, 
had  forfeited  their  parole  ;  or  that  more  prob- 
ably, instead  of  saying  one  word  to  them, 
would  order  them  all  into  as  wretched  a  con- 
finement as  the  soldiers  whom  they  sought  to 
relieve  ;  for  at  that  time,  the  British,?  from 
the  General  to  the  private  sentinel,  were  in 
full  confidence,  nor  did  they  so  much  as  hesi- 
tate but  that  they  should  conquer  the  country. 
Thus  the  conshltation  of  the  officers  was  con- 
founded and  broken  to  pieces,  in  consequence 
of  the  dread  which  at  that  time  lay  on  their 
minds,  of  offending  Gen.  Howe  ;  for  they 
conceived  so  murderous  a  tyrant  would  not 
be  too  good   to  destroy  even  the  officers,  on 


92 


NARRATIVE    OP 


the  least  pretence  of  tp  affront,  as  they  were 
equally  in  his  power  with  the  soldiers  ;  and 
as  General  Howe  perfectly  understood  the 
condition  of  the  private  soldiers,  it  was  argued 
that  it  was  exactly  such  as  he  and  his  council 
had  devised,  and  as  he  meant  to  destroy  them 
it  would  be  to  no  purpose  for  them  to  try 
to  dissuade  him  from  it,  as  they  were  helpless 
and  liable  to  the  same  fate,  on  giving  the  least 
afirorit  ;  indeed  anxious  ^  apprehensions  dis- 
turbed tl/i-m  in  their  then  circumstances. 

Meantime  mortality  raged  to  such  an  in- 
tolerable degree  among  thie  prisoners,  that  the 
very  school  boys  in  the  streets  knew  the  men- 
tal design;of  it  jn  some  measure  ;.  at  least  they 
knew  that  they  were  starved  to  death.  Some 
poor  v/omen  contributed  to  their  necessity, 
till  their  children  were  almost  starved,  and  all 
persons  of  common  understanding  knew  that 
they  were  devoted  to  the  cruelest  and  worsi 
of  deiiths.  It  was  also  proposed  by  some 
to  make  a  written  representation  of  the  coa<t 
ditlon  of  the  soldiery  V  and  the  officers  to  sigp 
it,  and  that  it  should  be  couched  in  such  terms 
as  though  they  were  apprehensive  that  the 
General  was  imposed  upon  by  his  officet's,  in 
their  daily  retiirns  to  him  of  th  rate  and  con- 
dition of  the   prisoners  ;  an(  therefore 


-b 


IS  they  were 
)Idiers  ;  and 
lerstood  the 
it  was  argued 
i  his  council 
destroy  them 
:Hem  to  try 
^ere  helpless 
ing  the  least 
3nsions  dis- 
tances, 
such  an  in- 
ers,  that  the 
ew  the  nien- 
at  least  they 
th.     Some 


necessity, 
ved,  and  all 

knew  that 

and  worst 
by  some 
of  the  con- 
cers  to  sig,n 
1  such  terms 
ve  that  the 
officers,  in 
iteand  con- 

thereforo 


ETHAN   ALLEN.  fV 

the  officers  moved  withtcompassion,  were  con- 
strained to  communicate  to  him  the  facts  re- 
lative to  them,  nothing  doubting  but  that  they 
would  meet  with  a  speedy  redress  ;  but  this 
proposal  was  thost  generally  negatived  ;  also, 
and  for  much  the  same  reason  offered  in  the 
other  case ;  for  it  was  conjectured  that  Gen- 
ral  Howe's  indignation  would  be  moved 
against  such  officers  as  should  attempt  to  whip 
him  over  his  officers'  backs.  That  he  would 
discern  that  himself  was  rea]ly  struck  at,  and 
not  the  officers  who  made  the  daily  returns  ; 
and  therefore  self-preservation  deterred  the 
officers  from  either  petitioning'  or  remonstra- 
ting to  General  Howe,  either  verbally  or  in 
writing  ;  as  also  the  consideration  that  no  val- 
uable purpose  to  the  distressed  would  be  ob* 
tained. 

I  made  several  rough  drafts  on  the  subject, 
one  of  which  I  exhibited  to  Colonels  Magaw, 
Miles  and  Atlee,  and  said  that  they  would 
consider  the  matter;  soon  after  I  called  on 
them,  and  some  of  the  gentlemen  informed 
me  that  they  had  wrote  to  the  General  on  the 
subject,  and  I  concluded  that  the  gentlemen 
thought  it  best  that  they  should  write  without 
me,  as  there  was  such  spirited  aversion  sub- 
sisting between  the  British  and  me. 


^. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


/. 


^^  /<^^£p. 


1.0 


I.I 


iat2^  |2.s 

|50    *'^™     lil^H 

IS  IS 


^ 


III— 

1 1.4       1.6 

^ 

6"     

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIISTIII.N.Y.  USIC 

(716)  e73-4303 


^    # 


i\ 


94 


NiaRATlVC  OF 


In  the  mean  tini«C7olonel  Hussecker,  of 
the  continental  army.,  as  he  then  reported, 
was  taken  prisoner,  and  brought  to  New 
York,  who  gave  out  that  the  country  was  most 
universally  submitting  to  the  English  king's 
authority,  and  that  there  would  be  little  or  no 
more  opposition  to  Great  Britain.  This  at 
first  gave  the  officers  a  little  shock,  b^t  iii  a 
few  days  th^  recovered  themselves ;  for  this 
Colonel  Hussecker  being  a  German,  was 
feasting  with  General  De  Heistery  his  coun- 
tryroeuj  and  froin  bis  conduct  they  we^e  ap^ 
prehensive  that  he  was  a  knave  ;  at  least  he 
was  esteemed  so  by  most  of  the  officers  ;  it 
was  neverthdess  a  day  of  trouble.  The  eoe.- 
my  blasphemed.  Our  little  army  was  re^ 
treating  in  New  Jersey,  and  our  young  men 
murdered  by  hundreds  in  New  York.  The 
arniy  of  Britain  and  Heshknd  prevailed  for  a 
little  season,  as  though  it  was  ordered  by 
Heaven  to  shew  to  the  latest  posterity  what 
the  British  woilkl  have  done  if  they  could, 
and  what  the  general  calamity  must  have  been, 
in  consequence  of  their  conquering  the.counr 
try,  and  to  excite  every  honest  man  to  stand 
fortbin  the  defence  of  liberty  vand  to  establish 
the  independencey  of  the  United  States  of 
America  ibrtv^r.  But  this  scene  of  adverse 
fortune  did  not  discourage  a   Washington. 


;  ■■  i  r 


ETHAN   ALLEN; 


^5 


eker,  of 
eported, 
to  New 
vasmost 
king's 
le  or  DO 
This  at 
b^t  iii  a 
for  this 
an,   wa^ 

lis  COUD- 

wete  ap- 
least  be 
icera ;  it 
riie  eoer 
was  re- 
ing  iHea 
k.  The 
led  for  a 
ered  by 
ity  what 
y  oould, 
iTe  been, 
lie  couo- 
to  stand 
establish 
States  of 
adverse 
ihinglon. 


,'t 


The  illustrious  American  here  remained  im- 
movable.    In  liberty's  cause  he  took  up  his^ 
sword.     Thb  reflection  was   his  support  and^ 
consolation  in  the  day  of  his  humiliation,  when' 
be  retr^ted  before  the  enemy,  through  New 
Jersey  into   Pennsylvania.      Their  triomph' 
only  roused  his  indignation^  and  the  important 
cause  of  his  country,  which  lay  naar  his  heart^'t 
moved  him  to  cross  the  Delaware  again,  nna 
take  ample  satisfaction  on  his  pursuers.     Not' 
sooner  had  he  circumvallated  his  haughty  foes' 
and  appeared  in  terrible  array  but  the  host  of 
Heshland  fell.     This  taughp  America  the  in^^ 
trinsic  worth  oi  perseverance,  and  the  genera 
ous  sons  of  freedom  flew  to  the  standard  of! 
their  common  safeguard  and  defence;  from 
which  time  the  arm  of  American  liberty  hath, 
prevailed.  «« 

Thi(i  surprise  and  capture  of  the  Hessiani* 
enraged  the  enemy,  who  were  still  vastly  moi'6<' 
numerous  thnn  the  continental  troops.     They^ 
therefore  collected,  and  marched  from  Prince- 
ton, to  attack  General  Washington,  who  waif 
then  at  Trenton,  havingi  previously  left  a  de^- 
tachment  from  their  main  body  at  Princeton,^ 
for  the  support  of  that  place.     This  was  a 
trying  time,  for  our  worthy  General,  tboufflft 
in  possession  of  a  late  mo8|g^|Nteiitfj|ng  <vic« 
tory,  was  by  no  means  9,]^  fSSKOr^^  ^^^ 


(Duiariu. 


4 


96 


NAERATIVE  OF 


collective  force  of  the  enemy ;  but  bis  sagacity 
soon  suggested  a  straiagem  to  effect  that  which 
by  force  to  him  was  at  that  time  impractica- 
ble. He  therefore  amused  the  enemy  with  a 
number  of  fires,  and  in  the  night  made  a  forced 
march,  undiscovered  by  them,  and  next  morn- 
ing feU  in  with  their  rear  guard  at  Princeton, 
dtid  icHled  and  took  most  of  them  prisoners. 
The  main  body  too  late  perceiving  their  rear 
was  attacked,  hurried  back  with  all  speed, 
but  to  their  mortification,  found  they  were 
out  generalled  and  baffled  by  Oeiieral  Wash- 
ington, who  was  retired  with  bis  Kttle  army 
towards  Morristown,  and  was  out  of  their 
power.  These  repeated  miocess^s,  one  on 
the  bac^  of  the  other,  chagrined  the  enemy 
prodigiously,  and  had  an  amazing  operation 
m  the  scale  of  American  politics,  and  un^ 
doubtedly  was  ^  **  of  the  corner-stones  on 
which  their  /ki>  Picture  of  Independent 
has  been  fabricated ;  for  the  country  at  no 
one  tiik^e  has  ever  been  so  mach  dispirited  as 
just  before  the  morning  of  this  glorious  suc- 
cess, which  in  part  dispelled  the  gloomy 
clouds  of  oppression  and  slavery,  which  lay 
pendine  oter  Anierica,  big  with  the  ruin  of 
this  and  future  generations,  and  enlightened 
and  spirited  her  sons  to  redouble  their  blows 
on  a  merciless  and  baughty,  and  I  may  add  a 
perfidious  enemy. 


<y  Ij! 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


m 


Furthermore,  this  succesd  had  a  mighty 
effect  OQ  General  Howe  and  his  council,  and 
roused  them  to  a  sense  of  their  own  weakr 
ness,  and  convinced  them  that  they  were 
neither  omniscient  or  omnipotent.  Their 
obduracy  and  death-designing  malevolence  in  ' 
some  measure,  abated  or  was  suspended. 
The  prisoners  who  were  condemned  to  the 
most  wretched  and  cruellest  of  deaths,  and  ' 
who  survived  to  this  period,  though  most  of 
them  died  before,  were  immediately  ordered 
to  be  sent  within  General  Washington's  lines 
for  an  exchange,  and  in  consequence  of  it, 
were  taken  out  of  their  filthy  and  poisonous 
places  of  confinement,  and.  sent  out  of  New 
xork  to  their  friends  in  haste ;  several  of 
them  fell  dead  in  the  streets  of  New  York, 
as  they  attempted  to  walk  to  the  vessels  in 
the  harbor,  tor  their  intended  embarkation. 
What  numbers  lived  to  reach  the  Mnes  I  can- 
not ascertain,  but  from  concurrent  representa- 
tions which  I  have  since  received  from  num-i 
bers  of  people  who  lived  in,  and  adjacent  to, 
luch  parts  of  the  country  where  they  were 
received  from  the  enemy,  I  apprehend  that 
most  of  them  died  in  consequence  of  the  vile 
usag6  of  the  enemy.  Some  who  were  eye 
witnesses  of  that  scene  of  mortality,  more 
especially  in  that  part  which  continued  after 
9 


98 


NARBATITB  OF 


the  exchange  took  plaee,  tre  of  opinion  that 
it  was  partly  in  consequence  of  a  slow  poison  ; 
but  this  I  refer  to  the  doctors  that  attended 
thenl  who  are  certainly  the  best  judges. 

Upon  the  best  calculation  I  have  been  able 
to 'make  from  persoiial  knowledge^  and  the 
many  evidences  I  have  collected  in  support 
of  the  facts,  I  learn  that  the  prisoners  taken 
on  Long  Island,  Fort  Washington,  and  some 
few  others,  at  different  times  and  places,  about 
two  thousand  perished  with  hunger,  cold  and 
sickness,  occasioned  by  the  filth  of  their 
prisons,  at  New  York,  and  a  number  more 
on  their  passage  to  the  oontineiital  lines  ;  most 
of  the  residue  who  reached  their  friends, 
having  received  their  death  wound,  could  not 
be  restored  by  the  assistance  of  physicians 
and  friends;  but  like  their  brother  prisoners, 
fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  relentless  and  scientific 
barbarity  of  Britain.  I  took  ^  much  paini 
as  tny  circumstances  would  admit  of,  to  in* 
form  myself  not  only  of  matters  of  faet,  but 
likewise  of  the  very  design  and  aiqis  of  Gen- 
eral Ilowe  and  his  council.  The  latjter  of 
which  I  predicated  on  the  former,  and  submit 
it  to  the  candid  public. 

And  Iflfsdy^  the  aforesaid  success  of  tho 
Amerioan  arms  had  a  happy  effect  on  the  con- 
tinental oikeri,  who  were  on  pir«le.at  New 


V'' 


ETHAH  ALLEN. 


m  tiiat 
oison ; 
tended 


■*4 


sn  able 
id  the 
iupport 
9  taken 
i  some 
I,  about 
M  and 
r  their 
r  more 
;  most 
Iriends, 
«dd  not 
rsicians 
soners, 
»eiitific 
j^ini 

to  in* 
let,  but 
f  Gen- 
itjter  of 

submit 


of  tber 

toon- 
New 


York*  A  number  of  us  assembled,  but  not 
in  m  public  manner,  and  with  full  bowls  and 
glatoes,  drank  General  Washington's  health, 
and  were  not  unmindful  of  Congtess-  aiid  our 
worthy  friends  on  the  oontinent,  and  almost^ 
forgot  that  we  were  prisoners. 

A  few  days  after  this  recreation,  a  British 
officer  of  rank  and  importance  in  their  army^ 
(whose  name  I  shall  not  mention  in  this  narra* 
tive,  for  certain  reasons,  though  I  have  men** 
tioned  it  to  some  of  my  close  friends  and  coU<^ 
fidents,)  sent  for  me  to  his  lodgings,  and  told 
me,  ''  Thbt  faithfulness,  though  in  a  wrong 
cause,  had  nevertheless  recommended  me  to 
General  Sir  William  Howe,  who  was  minded 
to  make  me  a  Colonel  of  a  regiment  of  new 
leyies,  alias  tories,  in  the  British  service,  and 
proposed  that  I  should  go  with  him  and  some 
other  officers,  to  England,  who  would  embark 
fol*  that  purpose  in  a  few  days,  and  there  be 
introduced  to  Lojd  George  Germaine,  and 
probably  to  the  King ;  and  that  previously 
I  should  be  clothed  equal  to  such  an  introduo<»4 
tibn,  and  instead  of  paper  rags,  be  paid  in 
hard  guineas;  after  this  should  embark  with 
General  Bui|;oyne,  and  assist  in  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  country,  which  infallibly  would  be 
conquered,  and  when  that  should  be  done,  I^ 
should  have  a  hrrge  tract  of  land,  whether  on 


100 


NARBATIVE  OF 


the  New  Hampshire  grants,  or  in  Connecti- 
cut, it  would  make  no  odds,  as  the  country 
would  be  forfeited  to  the  crown."  I  then 
replied,  <<  That  if  by  faithfulness  I  had  re- 
commended myself  to  General  Howe,  I  should 
^e  loth,  by  unfaithfulness,  to  lose  the  Gener- 
al's good  opinion  ;  besides  that  I  viewed  the 
offer  of  land  to  be  similar  to  that  which  the 
devil  offered  Jesus  Christ,  To  give  him  all 
the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  if  he  woidd  fall 
down  and  worship  him ;  when  at  the  same 
time  that  the  damned  fool  had  not  one  foot 
of  land  upon  earth."  This  closed  the  con- 
versation, and  the  gentleman  turned  from  me 
with  an  air  of  dislike,  saying  that  I  was  a 
bi^ot !  upon  which  I  retired  to  my  lodgings. 
Near  the  last  of  November  I  was  admitted 
to  parole  in  New  York,  with  many  other 
American  officers,  and  on  the  32d  day  of 
January,  1777,  was  with  them  directed  by 
the  British  commissary  of  prisoners  to  be 
quartered  on  the  westerly  part  of  Long  Island, 
and  our  parole  continued.  During  my  im- 
prisonment there,  no  occurrences  worth  ob- 
servLtion  happened.  I  obtained  the  means  of 
living  as  well  as  I  desired,  which  in  great 
measure  repaired  my  constitution,  which  had 
been  greatly  injured  by  the  severities  of  an 
inhuman  captivity.    I  now  began  to  feel  my« 


llTHAlf  AL|»fiI(. 


101 


Dneeti- 
jountry 
I  then 
lad  re- 
should 
Gener* 
wed  the 
lich  the 
him  all 
dd  faU 
le  same 
>De  foot 
he  con- 
rom  me 
[  was  a 
odgings. 
idmitted 
ly  other 
daf  of 
»cted  by 
I  to  be 
I  Island, 
my  im- 
ortli  ob- 
fneans  of 
in  great 
l)ich  had 
»  of  an 
feel  my« 


self  composed,  ^xpec^n^  either  an  exchange 
Qr  continuance  in  gpod  and  honorable  treat- 
ipent;  but  alas!  my  visionary  expectations 
soon  vanished.  The  news  of  tbci  conquest  of 
Ticpnderosa  by  General  Burgoyne,  and  the 
advance  of  his  army  into  the  councry,  made 
the  hangbty  Britons  again  to  -  feel  their  im- 
portance, and  with  that  their  insatiable  thirst 
ipr  cruelty. 

The  private  prisoners  at  New  York,  and 
some  of  the  officers  on  parole,  felt  the  severity 
of  it.  Burgoyne  was. their  toast  and  demi- 
god. To  him  they  paid  adoration.  In  him 
Uie  tpries  placed  their  confidence,  '<and  for- 
got the  Lprd  tbeir  God,"  and  served  Howe, 
Burgoyne  and  Ki^phausen,*  and  beGan«c!  vile 
in  their  own  imagio^tions,  and  their  foolish 
hearts  w^re  darkened,  professing  to  be  great 
noUtipians,  and  relying  on  foreign  apd  merci- 
ie$s  inv^ders,^^  and  with  them  seeking  the  rum, 
bippdshed  and  destructiop  of  their  country, 
Iff;  befsaoio  fools,"  expecting  with  them  to  ^are 
,  a  dividend  in  the  confiscated  estates  of  their 
neighbors  and  countrynaen  who  fought  for  the 
-iwbole  country,  and  tbe  religion  and  liberties 
tbereof.  *<  Therefore  God  gave  them  over 
,  to  strong  delusions,  to  believe  a  lie,  that  they 
, all  might  be  damned." 

"kMTFBAuiEir,  t  Il«i«an  G«n«ral. 
9* 


102 


NARRATIVE  Or 


n* 


he  25th  day  of  August  I  was  apprehend- 
ed, and  under  pretext  of  artful,  mean  and  piti- 
ful pretences,  that  I  had  infringed  on  my  pa- 
role, taken  from  a  tavern,  where  there  were 
more  than  a  dozen  officers  present,  and  in  the 
very  place  where  those  officers  and  myself 
were  directed  '  to  be  quartered,  put  under  a 
strong  guard,  and  taken  to  New  York,  where 
I  expected  to  make  my  defence  before  the 
commanding  officer  ;  but  contrary  to  my  ex- 
pectations, and  without  the  least  sohd  pretence 
of  justice  or  a  trial,  was  again  encircled  with 
a  strong  guard  with  fixed  bayonets,  and  con- 
ducted to  the  provost  gaol  in  a  lonely  apart- 
ment, next  above  the  dungeon,  and  was  de- 
nied all  manner  of  subsistence  either  by  pur- 
chase or  allowance.  The  second  day  I  of- 
fered a  guinea  for  a  meal  of  Victuals,  but  was 
denied  it,  and  the  third,  day  I  bfiered  eight 
Spanish  milled  dollars  for  a  like  favor,  but 
was  denied,  and  all  that  I  could  get  out  of  the 
Serjeant's  mouth,  was,  that  by  God  he  would 
obey  his  orders.  I  now  perceived  myself  to 
^be  agaia  in  substantial  trouble.  In  this  oon- 
mition  I  formed  an  oblique  acquaintance  with 
'a  Capt.  Travis,  of  Virginia,  who  was  in  tlie 
dungeon  beloW  me,  througha  little  hole  which 
was  cut  with  a  penknife,  through  the  floor  of 
my  apartment  which  communicated  with  the 


••i  •»    !     •  *  X 


•^. 


■*' 


ehend- 
id  piti- 
my  pa- 
5  were 
in  the 
myse]f 
ader  a 
where 
>re  the 
my  ex- 
retence 
id  with 
d  con- 
r  apart- 
'88  de- 
by  pur- 
y  I  of. 
)ut  was 
I  eight 
or,  but 
t  of  the 
would 
rself  to 
is  cou- 
»  with 
I  in  tiie 
which 
loor  of 
th  the 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


10ft 


dungeon ;  it  was  a  small  crevice,  through 
#hich  J  could  discern  bfut  a  very  small  part 
of  his  face  at  once,  when  he  plied  it  to  the 
hole  ;  but  from  the  discovery  of  him  in  the 
situation  which  we  were  both  then  in,  T  could 
not  have  known  him,  (which  I  found  to  be 
true  by  an  after  acquaintance.)  I  could  nev- 
ertheless hold  a  coversation  with  him,  and 
soon  perceived  him  to  be  a  gentleman  of  high 
spirits,  who  had  a  high  sense  of  honor,  and 
felt  as*  big  as  though^ he  had  been  in  a  p&lace, 
and  had  treasures  of  wrath  in  store  against  the 
British.  In  fine!  was  charmed  with  the 
spirit  of  the  man ;  he  had  been  near  or  quite 
four  months  in  that  dungeon,  with  mUrdereri, 
thieves,  and  every  Bpeci^s  of  criminals,  and 
all  for  the  sole  crime  of  unshaken  fidelity  to 
his  country  ;  but  his  Spirits  were  libove'  de- 
jection, and  his  mind  unchanageable.  I  en- 
gaged to  do  him  every  service  in  my  power, 
and  in  a  few  weeks  afterwards,  with  the  united 
petitions  of  the  officers  in  the  prdvost,  pro- 
cured his  dismission  from  the  dark  mansion 
of  fiends  to  the  apartment  of  his  petitioners. 
And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  third  day,  at 
the  going  down  of  the  sun,  that  I  was  pre- 
sented with  a  piece  of  boiled  pork,  and  some 
biscuit,  which  the  sergeant  gave  me  to  under- 
stand was  my  allowance,  and  I  fed  sweetly  on 


p 


*4H 


^Al^RATIYB  OF 


.^'' 


|i|e  Mtpe ;  but  I  indulged  my  appetite  by  de- 
gl^eesi  ai!id  in  a  few  days  more!  was  taken  from 
<t^at  apartment,  and  condupted  to  the  neait 
Jqft  or  story,  where  there  was  ^\xi  twenty 
tcofitinent^l  ^d  some  militia  officers  who  had 
been  taken  anc|  imprisoned  there,  besides  some 
priyatjp  gen|lemen  who  had  been  dragged  from 
itheir  own  homes  to  that  filthy  place,  by  tories. 
Several  of  every  denomination  died  there, 
^(ome  befprei  and  others  after  I  was  put  there. 
.    The  history  of  the  proceedings  relative  tp 
^^0  provost  pnly,  was  I  particular,  would  swell 
a -volume  larger  than  tbis  whole  narrative! 
Shall  therefore  only  notice  suchoftthe  occurs 
.fjsnceswbiprb  are  most  extraordmaryi.       -■■■;% 
i>t  Caplpin  Vanclyke  bore  with  an  uncommon 
fortitude  near  twenty  months'  confinement  in 
-t^Sr  plflf^i  and  in  the  mean  time .  was  very 
serficeable  to  others  who  were  confined  with 
l^p     The  allegation  against  bimr  ss  the  cause 
'«(  his  cQiifinement,  was  very  extraordinary. 
He  was  accused  of  setting  fir^  to  the  city  of 
rl^l»Wi  Yof;l^;(at  the  time  the  west  part  of  it  was 
jppnsiisapri^)  'wbc(Q  it  was  a  known  fact  that  he 
:^|iad;>Neuifi  the  prpvost.ar week  before  the 
.ire  brok^  out;  and  in  like  manner,  frivobus 
witetk^  o^i^sfble  accusations  agfunst  most 
of  those  wjio  wero  there  confined  j  the  case 
rtof /  two  militia  oQcers  exoeplei^)  who  were 


•■  -fC: 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


105 


taken  in  their  attempting  to  escape  from  their 
parole ;  and  probably  there  may  be  some  other 
instances  which  might  justify  such  a  confine- 
ment. 

Mr.  William  Miller,  a  committee  man, 
from  Westchester  county,  and  State  of  New 
York,  was  taken  from  his  bed  in  the  dead  of 
night,  by  his  tory  neighbors,  and  was.  starred 
for  three  days  and  nights  in  a  department  of 
the  same  gaol ;  and  to  this  the  denial  of  fir^,  Jf' 
and  that  in  a  cold  season  of  the  year,  in  which 
time  he  walked  day  and  night,  to  defend  hinan 
self  against  the  frost,  and  when  he  complained 
of  such  a  reprehenable  conduct,  the  word 
rebel  or  committee  man  was  deemed  by  the 
enemy  a  sufficient  atonement  for  any  bhuman- 
ity  that  they  could  invent  or  inflict.  He  was 
a  man  of  good  natural  understanding,  a  close 
and  sincere  friend  to  the  liberties  of  America, 
and  endured  fourteen  months'  cruel  imprison- 
ment with  that  magnanimity  of  soul,  which 
reflects  honor  on  himself  and  country. 

Major  Levi  Wells  and  Captain  Ozias  Bissel 
were  apprehended  and  taken  under  guard  from 
their  parole  on  Long  Island  to  the  provost, 
on  as  fallacious  pretences  as  the  former,  and 
where  they  continued  till  their  exchange  took 
^aee,  which  was  near  five  months. ,»  Their 
fidelity  and  zealous  attachment  to  their  coun- 


^Wti'i 


106 


NARRATIVE    OF 


try's  cause,  which  was  more  than  commonly 
ooriipicuous  t^as  undoubtedly  the  rea)  cause 
of  their  confinement.  *«!•  ;t}/»  ^*'^r.^^f»t 

Major  Brinton  Payne,  Capt.  Flahaven,  and 
Capt.  Randolph,  who  had  at  different  times 
distinguished '  themselves  by  their  bravery, 
especially  at  the  several  actions  in  which  they 
were  taken,  was  all  the  provocation  they  gave 
for  which  they  suBer ed  about  a  year's  cbn** 
"^^    fipcfment  each  in  the  same  filthy  gaoK    ^-^  uH 

A  few  weeks  after  my  confinement,  oh  the 
like  fallacious  and  TK^icked  pretences,  was 
lirought  to  the  same  place,  from  his  parole  on 
Long  island,  Major  Otho  Holland  Williams, 

inbw  a  full  Cobnel  in  the  continental  army.) 
n  his  character  are  united  the  gentleman, 
officer,  soldier  and  friend;  he  walked  through 
the  prison  with  an  air  of  great  disdain  ;  said 
be,  ''  Is  this  the  treatment  which  gentlemen 
of  the  continental  army  are  to  expect  from  the 
rascally  British,  when  in  their  power  ? 
Heavens  forbid  it  !"  He  was  continued 
there  about  five  months,  and  then  erchanged 
for  a  British  Major.  >ts^ 

.t  John  Fell,  Esq.,  now  a  member  of  Cooi*^^ 
gress  for  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  was  taken 
from  his  own  bouse  by  a  gang  of  infamous 
torits,  and  by  order  of  a  British  General  was' 


•i|UO>  V 


\  bvn 


:r 


sent  to 
nearon< 
was  ver 
a  hoars 
to  man 
duoedt 
he  was 
were  a 
must  d 
thflt  so 
have  fa 
base,  ai 
family  i 
great  ai 
care,  ui 
them. 
Robert 
being  t 
of  bun 
dying 
wrougl 
a  Bcitii 
remov< 
out  o( 
conseq 
his  hei 
cums^ 
letter, 


If'- 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


107 


sent  to  th^  provost,  where  he  was  icontinue^ 
near  one  yeai'.     The  stench  of  the  gaol^  which 
was  very  loathsome  and  unheahhy,  occasioned 
a  hoarseness  of  the  lungs,  which  proved  fatal 
to  many  who  were  there  confined,  and  re- 
duced this  gentleman  near  to  the  point  of  death; 
he  was  indeed  given  over  by  his  friends  who 
were  about  him,  and  himself  concluded  he 
must  die.    I  eould  not  endure  the  thought 
thdt  80  worthy  a  friend  to  America  should: 
have  his  life  stole  from  him  in  such  ft  mean«. 
base,  and  scandalous  a  manner,  and  that  hifar 
family  and  friends  should   he  bereaved  of  so^ 
great  and  desirable  a  blessing,  as  his  further 
care,  usefulness  and  examples,  might  prove  to 
them.     I  therefore  wrote  a  letter  to  general 
Robertson,  who  commanded  in  towi^,  and 
being  touched  with  the  most  sensible  feelings 
of  humanity,  which  dictated  my  pen  ^o  paint 
dying  distress  in  such  lively  coloes  thai  it 
wrought  conviction  even  on  the  obduracy  of 
a  British  General,  and  produced  his  order  to 
remove  the  now  honorable  John  Fell,  Esq.^t 
out  of  gaol  to  private  lodgings  in  town  ;  in 
consequence  of  which  he  slowly  recovered 
hit  health*     There  is  so  4sxtraordinaiy ;  a  cir- 
cumsitance  which  intervened,  concerning  this 
letter,  that  it  is  worth  noticing.  .1 

!  •    <>J  hdltLiMyU't}    bft»;  ,m>ri;iii;nni  il<i)!>ll  trill 


riT 


108 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


'  Previous  to  the  sending  it,.  I  exhibited  the 
same  to  the  gentleman  on  whose  behalf  it  was 
wrote,  for  his  approbation,  and  he  forbid  me 
to  send  it  fn  the  most  positive  and  explicit 
terms  ;  his  reason  was,  ''  That  the  enemy 
knew  by  every  morning's  report,  the  condi- 
tion of  all  the  prisoners,  mine  in  particular, 
as  I  have  been  gradually  coming  to  my  end 
for  a  considerable  time,  and  they  very  well 
knew  it,  and  likewise  determined  it  should  be 
accomplished,  as  they  had  served  many  others; 
that  to  ask  a  favor  would  give  the  merciless 
enemy  occasion  to  triumph  over  me  in  my 
last  monients,  and  therefore  1  will  ask  no 
favors  from  them,  but  resign  myself  to  my 
supposed  fate."  But  tHe  letter  I  sent  with- 
out his  knowledge*  and  I  confess  I  had  but 
little  expectations  from  it,  yet  could  not  be 
easy  till  I  had  sent  it.  It  may  be  worth  a 
remark,  that  this  gentleman  was  an  English- 
man born,  and  from  the  beginning  of  the  revo- 
hition  has  invariably  asserted  and  maintained 
the  cause  of  liberty. 

The  British  have  made  so  extensive  an 
improvement  of  the  provost  during  the  present 
revolution  till  of  late,  that  a  very  short  defini- 
tion fvill  be  sufficient  for  the  dullest  appre- 
hensions. It  may  be  with  proprietv  called 
the  British  inquisition,  and  calcidated  to  sup- 


ETHAN   AJ.LEN. 


109 


}M)rt  their  oppreissnre  roesiures  and  delAgns; , 
by  sappressing  the  spirit  of  liberty  ;  as  alao  a 
place  to  oonfioe  the  criminals,  and  pM>sl  io- 
famous  wi»tch8S!  of  their  own  arqny))  where 
many  geittlemen  of  the  American  army^  aod 
-eititenf  thereo^^  were  promiscuously  cononed, 
'  ivith  erery  species  of  criminala  ;  but,  tJbey  di- 
vided into  Afferent  compartments,  and  kept 
i«t  as  geeat  a  renitlvo  «s;  cineumstaiices  permit- 
led^  hut  it  WM  neTieithelees  at  the  option  of  a 
^llfiinous  aetgeani  who  had  ihe:<eharge  of  the 
^vose,  to  lake ;  my  gentlemen  from?  their 
iMom,  and  pot  them  into  the  dungeooi  wbieh 
vWar  often;  the  easei    At  two  diffeceot  tiiiies 
rl  i  waa  iakaii^  Aoira  stairs  for  thai  purfKi^e 
b^  a  fik  ofi  aoldiera  w»ith  i  fixed,  ih^onetf »  and 
the  sargaani  bnaadishing  his  siaqcd  at  the  same 
^aime^iand'  having  been  brought  to  the  door '«of 
I  the /dungeon^  I  there  vfleitared  the  vanity  lOf 
the.  sergeant,  whoae  name  was  Kei^^by  whi^h  k 
raeana  1  ipreon^ed '.  the ,  surprising  <  favor  tOi <  re- 
turn tomy  compaliions  ^  bat  aomeof  th^  high 
.  mettled  young  gentlemen  eould  not  heii  jiis 
(insolence^  anil  detevmiaed  to  kiee)>-Bt;aiidis- 
tanee,  and  >  iheither  please  or  displeas#  the 
.  yilhrin,  hot  noneoopld  keep  clear  of  ihia  ahMfe; 
however  nltld  measures  weretheuhesi;  he  did 
fiot  hesitaiai  to  call  us  damned  rebels^  and  use 
!«tB  with  the  coarsest  language.    The  Captains 
10 


no 


.  NARRATIVE  Or 


f.Flahaven,  Randolph  and  Mercer,  were  the 
^objects  of    his  most  fla^ant  and  repeated 
-^'abuses,  who  were  many  times  taken  to   the 
'>dungeonr  and  there  continued  at  his  pleasure, 
b Captain  Flahaven  took  cold  in  the  dungeon, 
tland  was  in  a  declining  atate  of  health,  but  an 
"«tochange  delivered  him,  and  in  all  probability 
lif  aved  &s  life.     It  was  very  mortifying  to  bear 
%ith  the  insolence  of  such  a  vicit>us  and  ill- 
bred,  imperious  rascal.  Remonstrances  against 
liim  were^  preferred  to  the  commander  of  the 
tiiiown^  but  no  relief  could  be  obtakied^  for  bis 
uiuperiors  were  undoubtedly  well  pleased,  with 
his  abusive  condtict  to  the  gentlemen,  under 
^^tbe  severities  of  his  power,  loifd  remonstrating 
^'•gainist  his  infernal  conduct,  only  seifved  to 
confirm  him  io  authotity,  and. for  this  reason 
•  I  never  made  any  remonstrances  on  the  sub- 
ject, but  only  flattered  hin^,  for  I  knew  that 
'  1  htf  was  but  a^  oat's  paw  in  the  hands  of  the 
^'British  officers,  apd  that  if  be  should  use  us 
i^<!«rett)  he  would  itainediately  be  put  out  of  that 
<i^lrust,  and  a  worse  mad  appointed  to  succeed 
^^him  ;  but  there  was  no  need  of  making  any 
■^ hew  appointment,  for  Cunningham,  their  pro-' 
^'Vost  marshal,  and  Keaf,  bis  deputy,  were  as 
i*  great  rascals  as  their  army  could  boast  of, 
'^  oxcept  one  Joshua  Loring,  an  infomous  tory, 
^^•WhO'  #iS'  Commissary  of  pritonen^  nor  can 


any  of 
inal'  wi 
associa 
murdei 
perpeti 
There 
•exhibit 
a  phiz 
allyca 
wioke: 
an  aba 
the  aui 
itately 
helptei 
destiny 
York, 
ardly, 
creatid 
with 
tiently 
ail  the 
estquii 
(ire. 

Th 
Clair, 
evacul 
the 
CastU 
when 


.:i:iij;!t . 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


Ill 


any  of  those  be  supposed  to  be  equally  crim^ 
inal'  with  General  Sir  William  Howe  and  bis 
associates,  who  prescribed   and  directed  the 
murders  and  cruelties  which  were  by  them 
perpetrated.      This  Loring.  is   a    monster  ! 
There  is  not  his  like  in  human  shape*     He 
•exbibi(s  a  smiling  countenance,  seems  to  wear 
a  phiz  of  humanity,  but  has  been  instrumental 
ally  capable  of  the  most  consummate  acts  of 
wiokcincssf  if  which  were  firstly  projected  by 
an  abandoned   British  council,  clothed  wfth 
the  authorify  of  aiHoJweymurdei'iflg  premed^ 
itately  in  cold  blood  near.or  quite  one  thousand/ 
helpliess  priabners,  and  that  in  the  most  clan- 
destine, mean  and  shameful  manlier,  at  New 
York.  I  i  Hens  the  most  mean  spirited^  cow- 
ardly, deceitfuland  destructive  animal  in  Qod's 
creation  beloW,  add  legions  of  infernal  devils, 
with  all  their  tremendoun  horrors,  are  impa- 
tiently ready  to  receive  Hb we  and  him,  with 
ail  their  detestable  accon)plices,  into  the  most 
exquisite  agonies  of  the  hotteiit  region  of  hell^ 
fire.  ^h 

The  sixth  day  of  July,   1777,  Gen.  St. 
Clair,  and   the  army  under  his   commatid, 
evacuated   Ticonderoga,  and  retreated  with, 
the    main    body    through  Hubberdton    into 
Castieton,  which  was  but  six  miles  distance,* 
when  his  rear-guard  commanded  by  Col.  Setb' 


112 


ZVARRATIVC   OT 


Wsrner/  was  attacked  at  Hubberdton  by  a 
hody  of  the  enemy  of  about  two  tbousand 
coiiriUHiiided  by  Gen.  Fraser.  Warner's  com* 
mand  consisted  of  his  o#n  and  two  other 
regiments,  viz.  Francis's  and  Hole's,  and 
soiuie  scatteHng  and  enfeebled  soldiers.  His 
whxsh  number,  according  to  inibrmation,  was 
neiar  or  quite  one  thousand;  part  of  which 
were  Green  Mountain  Boys;! about  seven 
hUndir^d  out  of  the  ^whole^  he  brought  into 
action.  Th6  enemy  advanced  boldly^  and 
the  two  bodies  fofnied  within  abduC  sixty 
yards  of  each  other.  €d.  Winner  hvfwg 
formed  his  own  regiinebtf  and  that  of  €oU 
PraUcis's,  did  not  wait  for  the  enemy 9  but 
gave  them  a  hearty  fire  from  his  whole  lihie, 
and  they  returned  it  widi  great  bravery.  It 
was  by  this  time  dangerous  for  thos^  of  both 
parties,  who  were  not  prepared  for  the  wot'ld 
td  come ;  hot  Col.  flale  tinng  apprised  of  the 
(hinger,  never  brought  his  regiment  to  the 
diat^e,  but  left  Warnier  and  Francis  10  stand 
the  blowing  of  it,  and  fled,  but  luckily  fell  in 
with  an  inconsiderable  number  of  the  enemy, 
and  to  his  eternal  shame,  surrendered  himself 
a  prisoner. 

The  conflict  was  very  bloody.  Col.  Fran- 
cis fell  in  the  same,  but  Col.  Warner,  aod  tbe 
ofllcers  under  his  command,  as  .also  the  sol- 


.if^' 


ETHAN  ALtBN. 


113 


diery,  behaved  with  great  resolution.  The 
enemy  broke,  and^gave  way  on  the  right  and 
left,  but  formed  again  and  renewed  the  attack  ; 
in  the  mean  time  the  British  grenadiers,  in  the 
centre  of  the  enemy ^s  line,  maintained^'  tha 
ground,  and  finally  carried  it  with  the  point 
of  the  bayonet,  and  Warner  retreated  with  re- 
luctance. Our  loss  was  about  thirty  men 
killed,  and  that  of  the  enemy  amounted  to 
thi'ee  hundred  killed;  including  a  Major  Grant. 
iThe  enemy's  loss  I  liearht  from  the  confession 
of  their  own  officers,  when  a  prisoner  with 
them.  I  beard;^  th^m  likewise  complain  that 
the  Gr^^ri  Mountain  Boys  took  sight.  Tb^ 
next  movement  of  the  enemy,  of  any  materiial 
cobsequence,  was  their  inveiting  Bennington, 
wf f h  a  design ' to  demoHsh  it,  and  subjects 
Mountaitieefiij  to^  which  Uiey  had  a  great  avei^- 
sion,  Witt)  fIfteM  hundred  cho^n  men,  include 
itig  tofr^,  ^ith  th^  highest  expectation  of  sue- 
c^s,  and  having  chosen  an  eminence  of  strong 
ground,  fortified  it'^with  iriight  breast  works, 
ahd  two  pieces  'OC  cannon ;  but  the  govem- 
nienl  of  the  young  State  of  Vermont,  being 
previously  jealous  of  subh  an  attempt  of  thi! 
enemy,  and  iti  due  tinie  had  procured  a  num- 
ber of  brave  militia  from  th^  government  of 
the  State  *of  New'  Hampshire,  who  together 
lirHfh  th«  militia  of  the  north  part  of  Ber^slnre 
10» 


114 


NARRATIVIS   OV 


county,  aod  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  the 
Crreen  Mountain  Boys,  constituted  a  body  of 
desperadoes,  under  the  conlmahd  of  the  in- 
trepid General  Stark,  who  in  number  were 
aboul  equal  to  the  enemy.  Colonel  Herrick, 
who  commanded  the  Green  Mountain  Hangers, 
and  who  was  second  in  command,  being  thor- 
oughly acquainted  with  the  ground  where  the 
enemy  had  fortified,  proposed  to  attack  them  t 
in  their  works  lupon  all  parts,  at  the  same  time. 
This  plan  being  adopted  by  the  General  and 
bia  council  of  war,  t)ie  little  militia  brigade  of 
iiodiscipiined  heroes^  with  their  long  brown 
&ek)cks,  (the  best  security  of  a  free  people,) 
^thout  either  cannon  or  l^yonets,  was,  on  the 
16th  day  of  August,  led  on  to  the  attack  by 
their  bold  commanders,  in  the  face  of  the  ene- 
my's dreadful  fire,  (and  to  the  astonishment  of 
the  world,  and  burlesque  of  discipliDe)  carried 
every  part  of  their  lines  m  less  than  one  quar- 
tet^ pf  an  hour  after  the  attack  became  general, 
took  their  cannon,  killed  and  captivated  more 
tlum  two.  thirds  of  their  number,  which  ira- 
mortalized  Geqeral  Btttfk,  wad  made  Penning- 
ton famous  to  posterity. 
.f  Among  the  enemy's  sUin  was  found  Colonel 
Baum,  their  commander,  a  Colonel  Pfester, 
who  headed  an  infamous  gang  of  tories,  and  a 
large  part  of  his  command ;  and  among  tbf 


1 » 


ETHAN  ALLEN. 


U5 


prisoners 'Was  Major  Meibome,  their  second 
in  command,  a  number  of  British  and  Hessian 
officers,  stirgeonS)  &c.,  and  more  than  one 
hundred  of  the  afore-mentioned  Pfester's  com- 
mand. The  prisoners  being  collected  togeth- 
er, were  sent  to  the  meeting-house  in  the 
town,  by  a  strong  guard,  and  General  Stark, 
not  imagining  any  present  danger,  the  militia 
scattered  from  him  to  rest  and  refresh  them* 
selves ;  in  th^  situation  he  was  on  a  sudden 
attacked  by  a  reinforcement  of  eleven  hundred 
of  the  enemy,  commanded  by  a  Governor 
Skene,  with  two  field  pieces .  They  advanced : 
in  regular  Of  der^  and  kept  up  an  incessant  fire, 
efpeeially  from  their  field  pieces,  and  the  re- 
maining militia  retreating  slowly  before  them, 
disputed  the  ground  inch  by  inch.  The  ene- 
my were  heinrd  to  halloo  to  them,  say^, 
"stop  Yankies.'^ 

In  the  mean  time  Colonel  Warner,  with 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  of  his  regi- 
liient,  (who  were  not  in  the  first  action)  arrived 
and  attacked  the  enemy  with  great  fury  (being 
determined  to  hare  ample  revenge  on  account 
of  the  late  quarrel  at  Hubberdton)  which^ 
brought  them  to  a  stimd^  and  soon  after  Gen. 
Stark  and  Col.  Herrick  brought  on  more  of 
the  scattered  militia,  and  the  action  became 
general;  in  a  few  minutes  the  enetny  werii 
fereed  from  their  cannon,  gave  way  on  aB 


11* 


NARRATIVE    df 


parts'ftnd  fled,  and  the  shouts  of  victory  were 
a  secoild  time  proclaimed  in  favor  of  the 
rhilitia.  The  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  pris^ 
oners,  in  these  tWo  actions,  amounted  to  more 
than  twelve  hnddred  men ^  and  our  loss  did 
not  exceed  fifty  men;  This  was  a  bitter  strokfe 
to  the  enemy,  but  their  pride  would  not  per- 
mit thenri  to  hesitate  but  that  they  could  Van- 
qufsh  the  country,  and  as  a  specimen  of  their 
arrogancy,  I  shall  insert  General  Burgoyne's 

Pg^QCLAMATlON. 

^y?!^  Jo^HN  BxrR<>orNE,  Esquire,  LieiiUenant^ 

^^fieiuK^lcfhUMajetty^s  armUaif^  dmerieqy 

.^Coloml  of  tJie  Queen's  regiment  of  light 

,  ^dragoons t  Governor,  of  Fort    Willi^ift^  in 

t^^J^/Mrth  Britain,  one  of  the  R^presentaiivp^ 

^  oi  the  Commons  of  Great  Britain  ir^Parm 

namenij  and  commanding  an -army  and 

^  [fleet  <^mploy,ed  on  an  expedition ^otf^  Ca,n' 

j^day  Sfc.  ^c,  ^c, 

b#'  The  forces  entrusted  to  my  command^ 
are  designed  to  act  in  concert'  and  upon  a  com^ 
mon  principle,  with  the  numerous  armies*  and' 
fleets  which  already  display  in  every  quarter 
of  America,  the  power^  the  justice,  and  when 
properly  sought,  the  mercy  of  the  king.    . 

nff'T}ae  cause  hi  which  the  British  arms  are: 
thiB  ex-erted^  applies  to  the  most  affecting  in- 
ti^rests  of  4iie  human  heart ;  and  the  tnilitaryi 


"Up 


ItTUAIY  ALLCn. 


in 


servants  of  the  crown,  at  first  called  forth  for 
the  purpose  of  restoring  the  rights  of  the  con- 
stitution)  now  combine  with  love  of  their 
country,  and  duty  to  their  sovereign,.the other 
extensive  incitements  which  spring  from  a  due 
sense  of  the  general  privileges  of  mankind. 
To  the  eyes  and  ears  of  the  temperate  part  of 
the  public,  and  to  the  breasts  of  suffering  thou* 
sanjs  in  the  provinces,  be  the  melancholy  s(p- 
peal,  whether  the  present  unnatural  rebellion 
has  not  been  made  a  foundation  for  the 
completest  system  of  tyranny  that  ever  God 
in  his  displeasure,  suffered  for  a  time  to  be 
eicerdised  over  a  froward  and  stubborn  gener- 
ation. '  J 

'V Arbitrary  imprisonment,  confiscation  of, 
property^  persecutioiv  and  torturei  unprece- 
dented in  tbe  inquisitions  of  the  Romish  church, 
are  among  the  palpable  enormities  that  verify 
the  affirmative.  These  are  inflicted  by  as- 
sepiblies  and  committees,  who  dare  to  profess 
themselves  friends  to  liberty,  upon  the  most 
quiet  subjects,  without  distinction  of  age  or 
sex,  for  the  sole  crime,  often  for  the  sole  sus- 
picion, of  having  adhered  in  principle  to  the 
government  under  which  they  werei>orn,  and 
tOy  which  by  every  tie,  divine  and  human,  they 
owe  allegiance*  To  consummate  these  shock- 
ing proceedings^  the  profanation  of  religion  is 
added  to  the  most  profli|g||)il|itiittution  of 


<l)n1<iriw 


118 


NARftATlTB  6r 


common  reason  ;  th^  consciences  of  men  are 
set  at  nought ;  and  multitudea  are  compelled 
not  only  to  bear  arm's,  biit  also  to  swear  sub<» 
jection  to  an  usurpation  they  abhor. 

<*  Animated  by  these  considerations  ;  at  the 
head  of  troops  in  the  full  powers  of 'health, 
discipline^  and  valor;    determined   to  strike 
where  necessary,  and  anxiougf  to  spare  where 
possible,  I  by  these  presents  invito  and  exhort 
allpersoils,  ill  All  places  Where  the  (Progress 
of  this  army  may  point;— -ahd  by  ttte  blessing 
of  God  I  will  extend  it  far,— to  maintain  such 
a  conduct  as  may  lustify  tiie  iii  protectihg  th^ir 
lands,  habitations  aWd  faitiities.    Th«  ifitention 
of  this  address  is  to  hold  forth  security,  ^oif 
depredation  to  the  eounti^y.     To  those  Whb'm 
spirit  and  princff{>le  may  i^d>i)<iid  tb  piartiik^the^, 
elortees  tbk  of^  redeeming  th^  cdufttryni^  ^ 
from  dungeons,  and  re-estMsfaing*  thdl  bless- 
ings of'  legcd  gdVernfnent,  I  offer  entidUrage- 
naent  and  employment ;  arid  upon  'the  iSrst'  in- 
telligence of  their  associatiohs,  t    ^\\\  iihd 
means  to  assist '  their  nndertakings.     The  do- ' 
mestic,  the  industrious,  the  thfii-m,  and  Jeven 
the  timid  inhabitants,  I  am  desirous  to  protect, 
provided  they  remain  quietly  at  their  houses  ;' 
that  thef ''do  not  suffer  their  cattle'  to  be  Ve-  ■ 
moved,  nor  their  corn  6r  forage  to  be  secreted ' 
or  destroyed;  that  they  do  not  break  upf  their 
bridges  or  r<kds  ;  lior  by  any  other  act,  di^ 


i\>. 


ETl^AN  ALliEN. 


119 


rectly  or  iodirectly,  endeavor  to,  obstruct  the 
operation3  of  the  kingis  troops,  or  supply  or 
assist  those  of  the  enemy.  Every  species  o( 
provision  brought  to  my  camp,  will  be  paid 
for  at  an  equitably  rate,  and  in  solid  coin, 

*'  In  consciousness  ot  Christianity,  my  royal 
master's  clemency,  and  the  honor  of  soldier- 
ship, L  have  dwelt  upon  this  invitation)  and 
wished  for  more  persuasive  terms-  to  give,  it 

;  iippression.  And  let  not  people  l)e  led  to 
disregard  it,  by  considering  their  distance  from 
the  inomediate  situation  ofipy  ,canip.  I  have 
but  to  give;  stretch  to  the  Indian  forces  uh()er 

,  my  direction,  and  they  amount; to  thousands, 
to  overtake  the  hardened  enemies  of  Great 
i^ritain  ^nd^  America  :  I  consider  them  the 
sami^  wliererer  they  j^aay  lurlj.  , 

*'  If  notwithstanding  tjiese  endeJ^Vors>  and 
sincere  indinatiops  to  e0ect  them,  thie  phrenzy 
of  hostility  should  remaip,  I  trust  I  shall  stand 

i  ^cguitted.in  the  eyes  of  Opd  and  men,  ip  de- 
nouncing and  executing  the  vengeance  of  the 

I  state  against  th^  wilful  putcasts .     The  mes- 

isengers  I  of  justice  and  of  wrath  await  them 
in  the  field  ;  wai  devastation,  famine,  and  ev- 
,exy  CQn6omitapt  horror  that  a  reluctant  biit 

. ,  indispensable  prosecution  of  military  duty  rnust 

.  QccasioO)  wiU  bear  the  way  to  their  return. 
:        ,        iV  J.  BURGOYNi:. 

ily  ordeirof 'Itiii  Bxcellency  the  U«uteimnt  deneral^ 

"  aOBERT  KINGSFl'ON,  Sec. 

Camp  ntar  Ticonderoga,  4th  July,  1777.  , 


120 


ifiikAfi^TE  or 


k.^.i-ptf 


General  Burgoynei  was  still  the  t6ast ;  ¥ij 
the  severities  toward!  the  prisoners  were  in 
great  measure  increased  or  diminished,  in  pro* 
portion  to  the  expectation  of  conquest.     His 
very  ostentatious   Proclamation   was   in  the 
hand  and  mouth  of  most  of  the  soldiery,  es- 
pecially the  tories,  and  from  it  their  faith  was 
raised  to  assurance.     I  wish  my  countrymen 
in  general  could  but  have  an  idea  of  the  as- 
suming tyranny,  and  haughty,  malevolent,  and 
insolent  behavior  of  the  enenriy  at  that  time  ; 
and  from  thence  discern  the  intolerable  calam* 
ities  which  this  country  have  extricated  them- 
selves from  by  their   public  spiritedness  and 
bravery.    The  downfall  of  General  Burgoyoe 
and  surrender  of  his  whole  army,  dashed  the 
aspiring  hopes  and  expectations  of  the  enemy, 
and  brought  low  the  imperious  spirit  of  an 
opulent,   puissant  and  haughty  nation,  and 
made  the  tories  bite  the  ground  with  anguish, 
exalting   the  valor  of  the  free-born  sons  of 
America,  and  raised  their  fame  and   that  of 
their  brave  commanders  to  the  clouds,  and 
immortalized   General  Gates  with  laurels  of 
eternal  duration. 

No  sooner  had  the  knowledge  of  this  inter- 
esting and  mighty  event  reached  His  Most 
Christian  Majep;y,  who  in  Europe  shines  with 
a  superior  lustre  in  goodness,  policy  and  arms, 
but  the  illustrious  potentate,  auftpfcipufly  in* 


=535F 


tTHAN  ALLKH* 


121 


,  and 
lere  in 
in  pro* 
His 

lin  the 
}y,  es- 
th  was 


fluenced  by  H^ftven  to  promote  the  reciprocal 
interest  and  happiness  of  tbennoieot  kingdom 
of  France,  and  the  new  and  rising  States  of 
^Amencavpatised  the  grestt  itnd  decisive  de- 
cree,  that   the    United  States  of  Anierica, 
should  be  Fr«e  and   Ibdependent.     Vauni 
no  lAOre  Old  England  !  consider  you  are  but 
^  island  !  and  that  yodr  po^er  has  been  coi^- 
tinned  longtSr  than  the  exercise  of  your  imi 
mariity.    Oyder  your  broken  and  vanqijshed ' 
battalions  to  retire  from  Ainerica«^e  sceOe 
of  your  c^kies.     Go  home  and  repent  in 
dust  and  sackloth  for  y^ur  aggraTated  cHmes. 
The  cries  of  bereaved  parents,  widows,  end 
ovphansv   reach  the  I^ieavens,  end  you  artf 
abominated  by  every  friend  to  America.  Take 
your  friends  rche  tories  with  you,  and  be  gone^ 
and   drink  deep  of  the  cup  of  humiliation* 
Make  peace  wiih  the  princes  of  the  house  of 
Bourbon,  for  you  are  in  no  condition  to  wage 
war  with  them.     Your  veteran  soldielv  are 
fallen  in  America,  and  your  glory  is  departed. 
Be  quiet  and  pay  your  debts,  especially  for 
the  hire  of  the  Hessians,    i  There  is  no  other 
way  for  you  to  get  into  credit  again,  but  by 
reformation   and   plain   honesty,  which  you 
have  despised  ;  for  your  power  is  by  no  means 
sufficient  to  support  your  vaoitv.    I  have  had 
opportunity  to  see  a  great  deal  of  it,  and  feH 
its  severe  effectt,  and  leaifned  letsoni  of  wis- 
11 


122 


JfARBATIVB   Of 


doin  and  policy,  when  I  wore  your  heavy 
irons,  and  bore  your  bUt^r  revilinga  and  re- 
proaches. I  have  somelhiog  of  a  smattering 
of  philosophy,  and  understand  human  nature 
in  all  its,  stages  tolerably  well ;  am  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  your  national  crimes,  and 
assure  ynu  that  they  not  only  cry  aloud  for 
Heaven's  vengeance, ^but  excite  niDokiiid  t^ 
rise  up  against  you.  Virtue,  wisdom  and 
policy,  are  in  a  national  sense  always  connect^ 
ed  with  power,  or  in  other  words,  power  is 
their  offspring,  and  such  povi^er  as  is  not  di- 
rected by  virtue,  wisdom  and  poHcy,  never 
fails  finally  to  destroy  itself  as  yours  has  done. 
It  is  so  in  the  nature  of  things,  and  uufit  that, 
it  should  be  otherwise  ;  for  if  it  was  not  so,, 
vanity,  injustice,  and  oppression,  might  reign 
triumphant  forever.  1  know  you  have  indi- 
viduals, who  ^till  retain  their  virtue,  and  con** 
sequently  their  honor  and  humanity.  Those 
I  really  pity,  as  they  must  more  or  less  suffer 
in  the  calamity,  in  which  the  nation  is  plul^ged; 
but  as  a  nation  I  hate  and  despise  you. 

My  affections  are  Frenchified.  I  glory  in 
Louis  the  sixteenth,  the  generous  and  power- 
ful ally  of  th<ise  States  ;  am  fond  of  a  connec- 
tion with  so  enterprising,  learned^  polite,  cour- 
teous, and  commercial  a  nation,  and  am  sure 
that  I  express  the  sentiments  and  icelings  of 
all  the  friends  to  the  present  revolu^ipo.    I 


'  \ 


ETHAK  ALLEN*. 


123 


begin  to  learn  the  French  tongue,  and  recom- 
mend it  to  mj  countrymen  bifore  Hebrew, 
Greek  or  Latin,  (provided  but  one  of  them 
only  are  to  be  attended  to)  foi  the  trade  and 
commerce  of  these  States  in  future  must  inev- 
itably shift  its  channel  from  England  to  France, 
Spain  and  Portugal ;  and  therefore  the  states- 
man, politician  and  merchant,  need  be  ac^ 
quainted  with  their  several  languages,  particu- 
larly the  French, 'which  is  much  in  vogue  in 
most  parts  of  Europe.  Nothing  could  have 
served  so  effectually  to  illuminate,  polish  and 
enrich  these  States  as  the  present  revolution, 
as  well  as  preserve  their  liberty.  Mankind 
are  naturally  too  national,  even  to  the  degree 
pf  bigotry,  and  commercial  intercourse  with 
foreign  nations  has  a  great  and  necessary  ten- 
dency to  improve  mankind,  and  erase  the  8u« 
perstitipn  ot  the  mind  by  acquainting  them: 
that  human  nature,  policy  and  interest,  are  th^^ 
same  in  all  nations,  and  at  the  same  time  they, 
are  bartering  commodities  for  the  conveniences; 
and  happiness  of  each  nation,  they  may  recip«« 
rocally  exchange  such  part  of  their  customs 
and  manners  as  may  be  beneficial,  and  learn 
to  extend  charity  and  good  will  to  the  whole 
world  of  mankind.  s 

,,  I  was  confined  in  the  provost-gaol  at  New 
York  the  26th  day  of  August,  and  continued 
there  to  the  third  day  of  May,  1778,  when  j 


*i 


124 


NARttAtlVE  or 


Wti's  taken  out  pnder  guardVand  cdriiiuetj^d  to 
a  sl(0Op'hithe  harbor  at  New  Yofk,  in  whidh 
I  wa&  guarded  to  Staten  Island,  to  General 
C'aYnphelPs  tiuairters,  where  I  was  admitted  to 
e^t  and  dfink  with  the  General  arid  several 
o^et  of  ihe  British  lield  officers,  and  treated 
fOi' two  days  in  a  polite  manner.  As  I  wa^ 
dunking  wTn6  with  them  one  evening,  J  made 
HH  bhaervatibn  Dn  my  transition  from  the  pro* 
i^st*crhhinak  to  (he  company  of  gentlemen, 
aiddinj^,  that  I  wad  the  saihe  man  still,  and 
ahoulS  givie  the  British  credit  by  him,  (s^peak^ 
ijo^lo &  Gemeral)  for  two  da)rs' good  tisage. 
'  The  next  dav  Colonel  Archibtdd  Campbell 
(who  was  exchanged  for  me)  came  to  thiir 
place,  condiicted  by  Mr.  Boudinot,  the  thett 
Ati^erican  coti^missary  of  prisoners,  and  sa- 
Tute^i^e  |ti  a  handsome  manner,  sayine  that 
hdi^iever  wa!i  mofe  glad  to  see  any  geiitlemafi 
iiY  his^'lif^.  '^  gave  nim  to  understand  that  I 
i^as  e^ueifly  ^lad  to  see  him,  and  was  appre^ 
henilve  th^t  it  was  from  the  same  motive. 
The  gentYemen  present  laughed  at  the  fancy, 
ahid  ebhjebtured  that  sweet  libeKy  was  the 
fotiixdiitibn  of  bfUr  gladness ;  so  we  took  a  gfa^S 
of  Wine  tdgether,  and  then  I  was  accompanied 
by  General  Campbell,  Col.  Campbell,  Mr. 
Boudinot,  and  a  number  of  British  officers,  to 
th^  l^bttt,  #ich  Was  ready  to  sail  to  Eliza- 
bcHifbwn  Point.    Meaiiwhili  I  entertained 


l^? 


them  with  a  rehear&al  of  the  cruelties  £xercise4 
towards  our  prisoners  ;  aod  assured  them  that 
I  should  use  my  influence  that  their  prisoners 
should  b^  treated  in  future  in  the  same  manner 
asi  they  should  in  future  treat  ours  ;  that  I 
thought  it  was  right)  in  such  cases,  tha^t  their 
exan^ple  should  he  applied  to  their  own  pris- 
oners ;  then  exchaqged  the  decent  cerei;i;)opieft 
of  compliment,  and  parted.  J  sailed  to  the 
Ppipt  aforesaid,  and  in  a  transport  of  joy, 
landed  on  liberty  ground  ;  and  as  I  advfincetd 
into  the  country,  recj?f|?jwi  t}i^.;fi^clamj^tjp|?ft,p/ 
A  grateful  Pf^ple.  » 

I  soo^  ij^iLinto  company  with  Colonel  Shel- 
d^,  ot  the  light  horse,  who,  in  a  polite  and 
Q^ligiog  manner,  accompanied  me  to  head 
quarters.  Valley  Forge,  whejre  I  was  courr 
teously  receired  by  Genieral  Washington, 
with  peculiar  marks  of  his.  approbation  and 
esteem,  and  was  introduced  to  niost  of  the 
Genertds  and  many  ot  the  principal  officers  of 
the  army ,  who  treated  me  with  respect ;  i^nd 
after  having  offered  General  Washington  nay 
further  service,  in  behalf  of  my  coMi^try,  as 
soon  as  my  health  (which  was  much  impaired) 
would  admit,  and  obtained  his  license  to  return 
home,  I  took  my  leave  of  his  Excellidcy,  and 
set  out  from  Valley  For^e  with  General  Gates 
and  bis  suite  for  Fishkill,  where  we  arrived 
the  latter  end  of  May.  In  this  tour  tbe  GiOf 
12 


i 


126 


ALLtSlf  8   NARRATIVE. 


^I'dli^its  pleased  tp  treat  me  with  tbefai^iliaritA 
of  a  companion,  and  generosity  of  a  lord  ;\ 
and  to  him  I  made  known  some  striking  cir-  «, 
cumstances  which  occurred  in  the  course  of 
by  captivity.  1  then  bid  farewell  to  my  noble 
General  and  the  gen  lemen  of  his  retinue,  and 
Set  out  for  Bennington,  the  capital  of  the 
Greeh  Mountain  Boys,  where  I  arrived  the 
evening  of  the  last  day  of  May  to  their  great 
surprise  ;  tor  I  was  to  them  as  one  rpse  from 
the  dead,  and  now  their  joy  and  mine  was 
bomplete.  Three  cantion  were  fired  that  eve- 
i^ing,  and  next  morning  Col.  Herrick  gave 
orders,  ahd  fourteen  more  were  discharged, 
Welcoming  me  to  Bennington,  my  ilsuiil  placd 
of  abode  ;— thirteen  for  the  United  States, t£i|d 
one  for  young  VeAnonti  ', 

:-,  After  this  ceremony  was  ended,  i^eltidved 
the  HMtik  bowl ;  and  rural  felicity,  sweetened 
'#itfai  Iriejoqshlp,  glowed  in  each  countenance } 
ebd^  #M  Ibyal  healths  to  the  rising  States  oi 
^Americltf^Hponcladed  that  evening  ;  aiid  with 
the  siniQ  loyal  spirit,  I  now  conckie,  my 


Wji'>  . 


:'■..•.        ,»■       . 


4 


